Keep Invasive Species Out!

As we wrapped up our double digging this week and finished preparing our beds for planting, one of our duties was to get rid of any invasive species growing near our space. One of the plants we kept an eye out for was Spotted Cat's Ear. Although Spotted Cat's Ear (pictured below) looks like a harmless yellow flower, it is in fact an invasive weed that should be removed completely and properly. Invasive plants use up resources and space that would've otherwise been used to nourish native plants, or in our case, veggies and flowers. They are known to grow quickly and aggressively by either spreading their roots or dispersing their seeds. This kills off other plants and creates a monoculture in the surrounding environment that exhausts the soil, making it hard for anything other than that invasive plant to grow. Furthermore, invasive plants mature quickly which in turn produces more seeds and roots and causes the plants to multiply. 

So how do we keep invasive species out? It's important to be vigilant and remove these weeds and their roots when they are small, before they can mature and spread. Additionally, you can plant native or noninvasive plants if there is bare soil around, as weeds thrive in bare and undisturbed areas. Lastly, be conscious of the amount of fertilizer you use and where you put it. Fertilizers can be an advantage for invasive plants because they provide lots of nutrients which allows them to grow even more rapidly. It is imperative to control invasive populations to maintain the health of native species as well as allow other plants to have access to needed resources. 

Kotone Berreman