Invasive species are living things which did not evolve in a given region with the result that natural controls did not evolve to consume them. As a result, invasives can grow so out of control that they can overwhelm native species. Since everything in our ecosystem is interconnected (just as our bodies are ecosystems in which all parts are interconnected), invasive species can disrupt or even destroy the balance.
What can we do about invasive plants?
There are several ways to control them. Go to the Mass Audubon link given in the orange box in this flyer for a thorough discussion. The most ecological ways to control them are: remove them by hand; "cook" them under black tarps in the sunshine; pour boiling water over individual plants. Herbicides should be used as a last resort as they can disrupt the interconnected ecosystem in which we live.
To read the full invasive plants flyer, please click here.
Additional information can be found at Grow Native Massachusetts and Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife.