For Green Landscapes, Avoid Invasive Plants
Making the earth-friendly landscaping choice to avoid invasive plants is not only the right choice for business, it will soon become the only choice.
Some invasive plant species are already illegal to sell in the state of Massachusetts, and at then end of 2008, several popular, yet invasive, plants will be banned from sale.
What are invasive plants? These non-native plant species are "overachievers." Once established in natural areas, they outcompete native species. They cause profound environmental and economic damage, and are a major threat to native habitats worldwide.
In fact, second only to loss of habitat through development, invasive species are the leading cause of reduction of biodiversity, worldwide. Some invasive plants have escaped from gardens and public plantings into natural areas. Each state has different problematic plants. Lists for all New England states may be found at www.newenglandWILD.org, the website of New England Wild Flower Society, America's oldest plant conservation organization headquartered at Garden in the Woods in Framingham.
Problem Plants
What are some of the problematic plants in Massachusetts? You only have to look at a nearby shopping mall or business park to see some of the same prevalent rogues so problematic in natural areas: Burning bush, Japanese barberry, and oriental bittersweet are everywhere. Yet for each one of these plants there are hundreds of durable, economical and beautiful native alternatives.
To make informed and healthy landscaping choices, New England Wild Flower Society urges local businesses to learn more about the invasive species issue and about which plants may be healthier not only for the nearby natural areas, but also for the bottom line. The society offers native plant alternatives for sale, plant lists, classes, consulting services, and online and published resources.
Announce to your customers and partners that you are making greener choices with native plants and other alternatives to invasive plants, for your business landscape, developments, and your home. You'll be demonstrating your good citizenship, and saving costs and resources. New England Wild Flower Society makes these recommendations:
1. Learn which plants are invasive at the Massachusetts Prohibited Plant List available at the New England Wild Flower Society web site at www.newenglandWILD.org.
2. Remove the invasive plants from your property and dispose of them properly.
3. Select native plants for your landscape. Society experts can recommend best choices for your conditions at nursery@newenglandWILD.org. Instead of burning bush try blueberries or aronia. Instead of Japanese barberry, fothergilla or spicebush are beautiful selections. Avoid the invasive Norway maple and choose another maple, such as red maple. There are hundreds more available.
4. Adopt sustainable landscape practice and save money and resources. Be water-wise, use compost, put the right plants in the right place, avoid pesticides and over-fertilizing
5. Consider reducing the use of lawn, and select alternative groundcovers. Choose organic practice for remaining turf.
6. Become an institutional member of New England Wild Flower Society and support the health of our natural areas. Contact Karen Pierce at kpierce@newenglandWILD.org
The New England Wild Flower Society is headquartered at Garden in the Woods - a 45-acre living museum with more than 1,500 kinds of native plants of America, 180 Hemenway Road, Framingham, www.newenglandwild.org.
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