Rockbridge Area Master Gardeners Association
Invasive Species Team: What We Do
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Educate RAMGA and the public about invasive plant species in our area.
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Teach why they are bad, how to identify them, and how to manage them.
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Go on home site visits, conduct research for RAMGA plant clinics, attend community tabling events, and help local Friends groups clear public trails.
To schedule a home site visit, please contact ramgainvasives@gmail.com and enter “Invasive Homesite Visit” in the subject line. To help us best serve you, include your location, how much property you are concerned about, and photos if you have them. A team member will contact you.
Links to excellent resources:
What is invasive?
DCR Invasive Species of VA (VA Department of Conservation and Recreation)
The list of what the State considers to be an invasive plant species
https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural-heritage/invspinfo
The Blandy Arboretum invasive species list
Similar to the above but more focused on landscaping plants
https://blandy.virginia.edu/sites/blandy.virginia.edu/files/Blandy%20Invasive%20List.pdf
Plant Invaders of the Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas
Downloadable book with thorough descriptions of invasive plants and summaries of control options
https://www.invasive.org/midatlantic/fieldguide/
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Exotic Invasive Plants
Discusses mechanical, biological, chemical and cultural control options
https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/content/dam/pubs_ext_vt_edu/420/420-320/CNRE-105.pdf
Identification and Management
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Blue Ridge PRISM
Loads of Factsheets on invasive species and their management. Many in person or Zoom training events.
***Natali Walker from Blue Ridge PRISM will be giving a FREE talk at the Lexington Presbyterian Church on Saturday May 13, 2023 at 10:30am in the Dunlap Auditorium***
Penn State Invasive and Competing Species
Great videos and publications on identification and control of species
https://extension.psu.edu/forests-and-wildlife/forest-management/invasive-and-competing-plants
Non-Native Invasive Plant Species Control Treatments
Great Summary of invasive plants– when and how to treat by the VA Dept. of Forestry
VA Tech Reading Pesticide Product Labels
https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/content/dam/pubs_ext_vt_edu/ENTO/ENTO-390/ENTO-390.pdf
Virginia Pesticide Safety
https://www.vapesticidesafety.com/pest_safety.shtml
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"Home Grounds & Animals"
2024 Pest Management Guide, Virginia Cooperative Extension
https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/content/dam/pubs_ext_vt_edu/456/456-018/ENTO-567.pdf
REMEMBER
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Pesticides (which include herbicides, insecticides, rodenticides, etc.) are poisonous. Always read and carefully follow all precautions and safety recommendations given on the container label. Store all chemicals in the original labeled containers in a locked cabinet or shed, away from food or feeds, and out of the reach of children, unauthorized persons, pets, and livestock. Consult the pesticide label to determine active ingredients, signal words, and proper protective equipment.Pesticides applied in your home and landscape can move and contaminate creeks, lakes, and rivers. Confine chemicals to the property being treated and never allow them to get into drains or creeks. Avoid drift onto neighboring properties and untargeted areas.
Rescuing City Trees from Non-Native Vines
In Partnership with the City of Lexington
How do you remove invasive non-native vines at home?
On your own property, you could hire a certified contractor (Blue Ridge PRISM contractor list) or a knowledgeable local landscaper. For more detailed information, check out these links:
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Invasives control methods (Summary of herbicide usage with calendar)
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Quick reference on invasive vines, their native look-alikes, and control methods
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An even longer reference (Fact sheets for identifying and controlling invasives)
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How to save your tree from English Ivy or Winter Creeper
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Use garden clippers (or a saw for large vines) to cut the vines at the bottom in a ring around the entire trunk of the tree. Be very careful not to cut the bark of the tree. You might find it easier to scrape off the leaves first with a saw so you can see the stems better.
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Cut them again around six inches higher and remove the vines in between the two cuts. A screwdriver might help.
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When removing the six inch section of vines in between. Be careful not to pull off the tree’s bark with it.
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Leave the rest of the vines on the tree. Trying to pull them off may hurt the tree and also could pull branches down onto your head.
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Congratulations - you have saved the tree! To keep the vines on the ground from growing back, pull them up by the roots.
Thick English Ivy and Wintercreeper stems are hairy, but so are those of Poison Ivy! Poison Ivy loses its leaves in the winter, and English Ivy and Wintercreeper keep them, but sometimes more than one vine may be climbing on the same tree, so be careful!
Poison Ivy is a native vine which is valuable for wildlife and does not damage trees, but you might not want it in your yard. Try not to accidentally cut any other native vines such as Virginia Creeper, which also sticks to the trunk of trees. https://extension.umd.edu/resource/how-identify-poison-ivy
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How to save your tree from Japanese Honeysuckle, Invasive Bittersweet and Asian Wisteria
(and from other invasive vines that wrap around or drape themselves over trees)
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Use garden clippers (or a saw for large vines) to cut the vines close to the ground.
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Cut them again around shoulder height and remove the vines in between. This makes it easy to see what you have done and keeps the vines from providing a ladder for new vines to grow up.
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Leave the rest of the vines on the tree. Trying to pull them off may hurt the tree and also could pull branches down onto your head.
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Congratulations - you have saved the tree! To keep the vines on the ground from growing back, pull them up by the roots.
Try not to accidentally cut any native vines, which don’t hurt the trees and which are an important food source for birds and other wildlife. Common examples are native grape vines, Greenbrier, and Trumpet Creeper.
Thick English Ivy and Wintercreeper stems are hairy, but so are those of Poison Ivy! Poison Ivy loses its leaves in the winter, and English Ivy and Wintercreeper keep them, but sometimes more than one vine may be climbing on the same tree, so be careful!
Poison Ivy is a native vine which is valuable for wildlife and does not damage trees, but you might not want it in your yard. Try not to accidentally cut any other native vines such as Virginia Creeper, which also sticks to the trunk of trees. https://extension.umd.edu/resource/how-identify-poison-ivy
Thank you to the efforts and information provided by Plant Nova Trees, who are working to increase the native tree canopy!
www.plantnovatrees.org/rescuing-trees
For more information on planting native in your region, go to www.plantvirginianatives.org