Free workshop available in February for homeowners battling woody invasive plants this winter
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EmailLearn how to identify and control the worst woody invasive plants with live field demonstrations.
Is your yard or property infested with unwanted woody invasive plants? Are you unsure of the most effective way to safely get rid of them? Or, have you tried—only to have them reappear or re-sprout with a vengeance?
If your answer is yes to any of these questions, join us in learning how to safely and successfully control invasive woody plants at the Homeowner Winter Woody Invasive Plant Control Workshop on Saturday, February 8, 2025, hosted by Michigan State University Extension, Oakland County Parks and the Blue Heron Headwaters Conservancy.
Invasive plants and habitat loss
Habitat loss is a significant factor that negatively affects wildlife, often occurring due to the development of natural areas. A less familiar driver of habitat loss in natural areas can occur through the domination of invasive plants, which can degrade the habitat value by outcompeting and pushing out important native plants that support our native wildlife.
Woody invasive plants such as buckthorn can quickly overtake natural areas by several means, including by growing quicker, leafing out earlier, and producing fruit earlier and in greater numbers than native plants. This can result in native species being shaded out and natural areas being overrun with invasive seedlings that grow into forests.
Areas filled with lots of invasive species of trees and vines can be misleading. They appear to be healthy natural areas to the untrained eye, but in fact do not support the number and diversity of wildlife compared to areas with primarily native species. Controlling invasive species on your property is a noble endeavor on many levels—not only are you making your property better habitat for wildlife, but you are also preventing the spread of invasive species to other natural areas.
Learn the basics of identifying and controlling winter woody plants
This free workshop will cover the basics of winter woody plant identification, along with control methods through demonstrations of targeted herbicide application. Free herbicide applicators will also be provided for all participants; herbicide will not be provided.
The workshop is on Saturday, February 8, 2025, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Blue Heron Land Conservancy Kimball Preserve. Participants are asked to meet in the parking lot across from 7260 Perry Lake Rd, Village of Clarkston, MI 48346.
The program is free, but prior online registration is required so we can be sure to have enough applicators and hot chocolate for everyone. Please be sure to dress for the weather with lots of warm layers and waterproof, insulated footwear.
Register at events.anr.msu.edu/HomeownerWoodyInv/.
For more information, contact Cathy Morris at morri735@msu.edu or (248) 858-1639.
