Invasive species have been present in the Upper Midwest since the time of European settlement. Invasives outcompete plants native to a community and in so doing, gradually reduce the diversity of that site.
While most invasives are not native to our area, some are. These plants have become more widespread in our landscape with huge changes to natural processes such as fire and flooding.
PlantWise is successful in controlling invasives in a wide variety of settings.
We have more than 10 years of experience in the field and are called upon to teach weed control techniques throughout Michigan.
Approaches
PlantWise utilizes the techniques that combine the highest level of effectiveness while creating the lowest level of impact to the native landscapes. We:
- Work with a landowner's desires and needs
- Work in a diligent, cost-effective manner
- Target weeds during the time of year when they are most susceptible
- Choose chemicals that are the least toxic, based on the site in question
- Use a variety of techniques including:
- Chemical control
- Prescribed fire
- Hand-pulling or digging
- Repeated, time-sensitive cutting
Success Stories
In 2005 PlantWise completed a project for the Michigan DNR at Island Lake State Recreation Area. We removed autumn olive, black locust, common and glossy buckthorn, honeysuckle, Asian bittersweet, sweet cherry, and Scots pine from approximately 25 acres of high quality remnant prairie, savanna, and oak woodland. This manual control is the first part of a continuing effort to encourage the return of numerous native prairie and savanna species to the site.