Native Plant Retention
Glossy buckthorn was growing in direct competition with young Aspen. The buckthorn was first cut down with a chainsaw to reduce its growing height (early spring 2021), then the foliage was sprayed with herbicide (Late summer 2021), without harming the native Aspen
A very important aspect of our work is the retention of native plant species. We work on properties that range in invasive plant densities, from a scattered few to near monocultures. Even in near monocultures, we find a few natives established, whether it be grasses, shrubs, trees, or all. Retaining native plants is not only valuable from an intrinsic perspective, but it is also valuable from a monetary perspective. Strong, healthy, and undisturbed ecosystems resist invasive plant establishment much better than their disturbed counterparts. Having native vegetation in place increases the amount of vegetative competition for invasive plants, decreasing their rates of establishment and growth, which reduces long-term management costs. Utilizing natural ecosystem functions essentially provides “free labor.”