World’s Worst Invasive Plants Sold at Many U.S. Garden Centers
/"Banned by federal and state regulators, many invasive plants are still being sold at garden centers, nurseries and online retailers nationwide."
In a disturbing study highlighted by Smithsonian Magazine, ecologists found that Americans are unknowingly buying and planting federally and state banned invasive plant species.
"Published in the peer-reviewed journal Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, the study searched Google and a database of nursery catalogs to identify invasive plants still being sold in the United States. The information was gathered from 1,330 nurseries, garden centers and online retailers, including Amazon and eBay."
Victoria Gardens is aware and diligent about removing invasives when we find them on client’s property. We don’t use chemical controls or weed killers—the best way to control most species is to pull them out or mow them down. Victoria stays abreast of new invasive from professional journals and industry news, but also by relying on a small group of dedicated and experienced growers.
The best way to avoid invasives is to avoid fly-by-night growers and landscapers who lack any real plant knowledge. Some of Victoria’s growers have been in business for generations. And after 30+ years of garden design and maintenance, the Victoria Gardens’ crew know from personal experience whether plants stay, naturalize, or invade!
One of the most common invasive we encounter is the Japanese barberry. This prickly shrub is terrible for multiple reasons. One, you won’t necessarily see how invasive it is until it’s too late. Unfortunately this plant was used as an ornamental shrub in many residential plantings. It doesn’t “take over” a garden, but birds eat the seeds and spread them to wooded areas where they take over native groves, growing into huge brambley swaths of pricker bushes. So by planting them, you damage neighboring woodlands, without even knowing you are doing damage.
The second reason these plants are terrible is that they function as tick motels.
By removing a stand of Japanese barberry, you can reduce tick level in the area for up to six years!
If you have these invasive, tick-attracting bushes in your yard or in your woods, we recommend you dig them out and set up a burn barrel on site (so you are not carrying the seeds to a new location.)
Common invasives being illegally or improperly sold include:
Japanese barberry
cogongrass
Chinese privet
whitetop
Norway maple
Brazilian peppertree
Russian olive
garlic mustard
yellow star thistle
Canada thistle
kudzu
Johnsongrass
Victoria Gardens landscaping division has been designing, installing, and maintaining gardens in Ulster county for over 30 years.
Any project by Victoria Gardens begins with an hour long consultation with Victoria. The purpose of a consultation is to allow the designer to see your property and gives you the opportunity to ask any questions and to express your vision, wishes, and requirements for the project.
Design Consultations
Garden Installation
Garden Maintenance
Weeding & Mulching
Spring & Fall Clean Ups
Deer Spray
The Victoria Gardens' landscaping crew are experienced and knowledgeable gardeners. Besides designing and installing new gardens, we also offer maintenance, spring cleanups, pruning, transplanting, weeding, and mulching.
Call to get an estimate: (845) 658-9007