Invasive plants should go to the landfill

[MrKhay]

Spring is the time when many property owners and volunteer organizations are hard at work trying to eliminate invasive plants like garlic mustard from their woods, yards and local parks. Many invasive plants continue to develop seeds once they have been pulled from the ground.

To ensure that the invasive plants are destroyed and the seeds not redistributed, the Department of Natural Resources are asking property owners to separate and bag any invasive plants in clear bags and label the bags "invasive plants - approved by Wis. DNR for landfilling."

"Even though landfilling of yard waste is prohibited in Wisconsin, the DNR is using its enforcement discretion to allow invasive plants to be landfilled because that represents the best available option for disposing of them," said Cynthia Moore, DNR Recycling Team Leader.

"We don't recommend composting invasive plants and their seeds because of the likelihood that viable plants and seeds will be spread through the distribution of the finished compost. Only specially designed and carefully managed composting operations should accept invasive plants"

More information on invasive plant species and eradication can be found at: http://dnr.wi.gov/invasives/plants.htm

[pk]

I was really surprised when I saw a few of the flowers on the list that people love to plant in their wild flower gardens and yards. Queen Ann's Lace and the most ever popular Orange Tiger Lily!


Are we not suppose to have Orange Tiger Lilies in our yards? Not sure what they mean by 'invasive'. Mine has stayed in the same spot for years and not spread much at all. :?

pk

[pk]

It's funny how this flower is on the list of invasive flowers that should be destroyed in the landfill. When in Door County they encourage wild flowers and this is one you see all over....

[pk]

creeping charlie is also on the list of invasive plants and I for one can totally understnad this plant being on the list. This picture is from our side yard where this plant has taken over and killed our grass. We have pulled it up, put weed killer on it, etc...and it still comes back and spreading more each year.

pk

[AJE]

Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)



is a tall (3-7 foot) plant, with square woody stalks. The stalk is covered with purple flowers composing of 5-6 purple-pink petals surrounding a small yellow center. This plant was irresistible to horticulture enthusiasts, but is now illegal to cultivate.

The arrival of Purple Loosestrife, a beautiful but aggressive invader, arrived in eastern North America in the early 1800’s. Settlers brought plants to North America for their flower gardens.

Purple Loosestrife is a very hardy perennial, which can rapidly degrade wetlands, diminishing their value for wildlife habitat. When Purple Loosestrife gets a foothold, that habitat where fish and wildlife feed, seek shelter, reproduce and rear their young, becomes choked under a sea of purple flowers. Beware that each flower will produce a seed capsule and a mature plant (2-5 years old) will release 2.7 million seeds annually! As tiny as grains of sand, seeds are easily spread by water, wind, wildlife and humans.

Once flower petals begin to drop from the bottom of the flower spike, the plant begins to produce seed. Proper disposal of plant material is important. Put all plant pieces in plastic bags (vegetation rots quickly in plastic) and take the bags to a sanitary landfill site.

Be sure the landfill doesn’t require the bags to be broken open for composting! Composting is not advised, as purple loosestrife seeds may not be destroyed and the thick, woody stem and roots take a long time to decompose. If facilities exist in your area, incineration is an effective way to dispose of plant material.

Be aware that your clothes and equipment may transport the small seeds to new areas! Thoroughly brush off your clothes and equipment before leaving the site.