Invasive species may seem like a problem reserved for forests, meadows, and other wild spaces, but they can also become a nuisance in your garden. If you’ve ever tried to get rid of English ivy, for example, you know how weedy it can be and how difficult it is to remove! Additionally, invasive plants in…
A lavender hedge might be the perfect addition to your outdoor space if you love lavender and neat, orderly gardens. Almost as tidy as boxwoods but decidedly more colorful and fragrant, a lavender hedge gives a classical garden an extra spark of interest and beauty. But before you dive in, it’s important to understand how…
Propagating your own lavender plants is a fun, cheap way to produce more lavender, share with friends and neighbors, and even earn a profit from selling the resulting plants. However, not all lavender plants can legally be propagated! Before you begin taking cuttings, make sure that the cultivar has not been patented. The list of…
Weeds are something almost every gardener loves to hate. We spend hours digging them out of the ground, yet the stubborn little plants continue to pop up where we don’t want them. If you’re anything like me, you always feel behind on weeding. So why on earth would anyone want to celebrate Weed Appreciation Day?…
Invasive plants threaten native plants, animals, and ecosystems, but they’re not only found in wild spaces. Many nurseries and garden centers continue to sell plants known to be invasive species, and you can even find invasive plants in some “wildflower” seed mixes. The good news? Thousands of beautiful garden plants are not invasive, so you…
In Missouri, invasive plants don’t just affect native plants and wildlife. Many people in Missouri make a living from the land, and invasive plants can degrade pastures, choke out oak and hickory trees, and cause harm to waterways. This impacts farming, forestry, and outdoor recreation, touching the lives of nearly everyone in the state. But…
Although only a small fraction of non-native species escape cultivation and become invasive, those that do pose a huge threat to the native wildlife and ecosystems of Mississippi. Despite this, many invasive plants in Mississippi are still available for sale at nurseries, landscape centers, and box stores. Others have been banned but can still be…
As gardeners, we are in a great position to help fight invasive plants and protect native ecosystems. Invasive plants in Minnesota harm native plants and animals, damaging the state’s prairies, forests, wetlands, lakes, and rivers. They can impact our ability to enjoy natural spaces and even negatively affect agriculture and other important sectors. But what can…
Cleaning up invasive species might seem like a job better left to park rangers and other professionals, but about half of the worst invasive plants in Michigan began in gardens. These nonnative ornamentals spread beyond our manicured landscapes to take over natural spaces, crowding out native plants and disrupting ecosystems. But how do you distinguish between…