WINNEBAGO COUNTY- Autumn brings us many gifts: cooler weather, fall traditions, changing leaves, and the perfect opportunity to manage invasives. As leaves fall and many plants go dormant, woody invasives stand out as still green and growing, making them stick out like a sore thumb. When we can identify and manage irksome invasive plants, we return the reins to our native plants and allow our natural ecosystems to thrive.
To help in the righteous efforts of saving our natives and squashing invasive plants, Forest Preserves of Winnebago County and University of Illinois Extension have partnered to inform community members on the topic. Join their educational evening program: Managing Woody Invasive Plants: Fall Classroom Edition to learn how invasives take over, why it is essential to manage these pesky plants, and how to do it effectively. The program will be held on November 6th at 6 PM at Forest Preserves of Winnebago County headquarters at 5500 Northrock Dr., Rockford, IL 61103. There is no charge for this program; however, pre-registration is requested. To register, visit go.illinois.edu/jsw or call 815-986-4357 for more information.
According to Illinois Extension’s Natural Resource, Environment, and Energy Educator, Jay Solomon, managing invasives is critical because “invasives establish easily and displace native plants in our landscape without providing the same benefits to nature.” Solomon adds, “For example, bush honeysuckle can take over the understory of a forest area, preventing tree seedlings from establishing, reducing safe and suitable nesting locations for songbirds, and the berries provide a lower nutrition level for these birds. The only winner is bush honeysuckle.”
As our natives gear up for winter by changing colors, many woody invasives do not get with the program. “Woody invasive plant species tend to be the last to go dormant in the winter,” Solomon shares. “Leaving the green plants in an otherwise dormant landscape, it is easy to pick out. They are building up nutrient stores in the roots, which makes them more vulnerable to control measures.” Thankfully, we can use this weakness of theirs to our advantage. During Managing Woody Invasive Plants: Fall Classroom Edition, Solomon will enlighten participants on the best management methods: chemical control, mechanical (cutting or pulling), and the most effective combinations of methods.
Join the movement at Managing Woody Invasive Plants: Fall Classroom Edition and jump on the opportunity to crush invasives so our beloved natives can thrive in the spring.
University of Illinois Extension develops educational programs, extends knowledge, and builds partnerships to support people, communities, and their environments as part of the state's land-grant institution. Extension serves as the leading public outreach effort for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences in all 102 Illinois counties through a network of 27 multi-county units and over 700 staff statewide. Extension’s mission is responsive to eight strategic priorities — community, economy, environment, food and agriculture, health, partnerships, technology and discovery, and workforce excellence — that are served through six program areas — 4-H youth development, agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic development, family and consumer science, integrated health disparities, and natural resources, environment, and energy.