Keep Invasives Out

Replace aggressive species with native plants that support your local wildlife.

- Melinda Myers

They can be pretty, but the troublesome beauties known as invasives eventually escape backyard landscapes and creep into wetlands, woodlands and other natural spaces. Once they take root, they crowd out native plants that provide food and shelter for beneficial insects, birds and mammals living in those habitats.

As these bullies flourish and spread in an area, they compete with native species for moisture, sunlight and nutrients. This has contributed to the decline of 42 percent of endangered and threatened species. The presence of invasives also affects water quality, increases soil erosion and decreases a habitat’s diversity.