The plume of the Invasive non-native Phragmites is a perennial wetland plant that has quickly spread robbing the fish, plants and wildlife of nutrients and space and causing a fire hazard.
It may appear that the plume-topped Phragmites is just another pretty face but it is not. Phragmites are bad news for Maryland, Virginia and Washington DC local marshes. It can grow to be over 15 feet tall and will crowd out all other plants (native and non-native). Our eco-system can’t sustain a plant of this vigor. Recognizing Phragmites early in its invasion increases the opportunity for successful eradication dramatically. Continue Reading
Goats eat Kudzu!
Environmental Problems
Kudzu has a massive effect on the local environment in the areas it invades. Kudzu spreads both horizontally and vertically, covering all other plants in a tick mat of leaves and stems, which blocks light from reaching them. Very few plants can grow under such low light conditions, and usually the weight of the kudzu alone can be a barrier to growth. For this reason, diversity in plant species is extremely limited in a region invaded by Kudzu. The decrease in plant species also has a negative effect on the diversity of native wildlife. The elimination of native trees and brushes deprives native plant eaters of food, and thus causes a huge gap in the region’s food chain. Continue Reading