Rabbit taking cover in garlic mustard

The Native Plants Program encourages the use of native plants in both landscaping and restoration projects.  Native plants provide food and habitat for native wildlife, and the use of native plants help preserve the genetic diversity of native plant populations.  Information on plant identification, propagation, site preparation, site appropriate species, planting methods, design layout, and long term maintenance is provided free of charge.  Native wildflower seeds, brochures, and wildlife books can be purchased at the Marquette Conservation District throughout the year.  Trees, shrubs, and native plants can also be purchased during our annual tree sale.

Weeds take over important habitat areas for wildlife, devestating shelter and forage while reducing the diversity and quantity of native plants. When weeds do not hold and protect the soil the way native plants to, erosion increases, causing sediment in streams, which can hurt fish populations and water quality.

Weeds are often less resistant to wildfire than are native plants. Weeds also reduce land values, causing damaging economic impacts to local communities. For example, weeds have a profound effect on ranching and agricultural operations because they can reduce production of forage and crops.

Weeds are often thorny and scratchy, and grow in dense patches, which makes hiking or recreation activities difficult if not impossible. Weeds increase the cost of maintaining recreational facilities.  Leafy spurge alone costs North Dakota an estimated $87 million a year.

Weeds are a problem from coast to cost, ranging from invasions such as kudzu, an aggressive Asian vine, in the Southeast, to knapweed, a tough, rapidly invading competitor, in the Northwest.

Garlic Mustard seed pods

Generally, the term weed is used to describe any plant that is unwanted and grows or spreads aggressively. The term exotic weed describes an invasive unwanted non-native plant. Terms such as invasive weed or noxious weed are used somewhat interchangeably to refer to weeds that infest large areas or cause economic and ecological damage to an area. The term "noxious" weed has legal ramifications in some states that maintain official lists of noxious weeds. What is considered a weed in one area may not be a weed in another.

Controlling weeds poses a special dilemma because, once a weed infestation is identified, it is often already so large that containment is difficult and expensive. Biological control (using organisms such as introduced insects or diseases to suppress populations) is effective in slowing the spread of weeds but generally cannot eradicate the infestation. Manually pulling weeds or using machines to dig them up is effective with smaller infestations if done carefully to avoid spreading seeds. Herbicides can be effective in controlling weeds and stopping their spread especially when infestations are detected early. Land managers generally take an integrated approach, using a combination of these methods.

A special emphasis is placed on early detection on infestations and prevention of new infestations. Educated citizens who can report these new, small infestations will make a major difference in the national effort to control the spread of invasive weeds.

• Adopt a local roadside or park area. Work with the land manager or appropriate officials on a weed removal plan. Conduct community outreach (speeches, newspaper articles, brochures, buttons, signs, videos) to inform citizens about your adopted area.
• Conduct  field surveys to map the locations of invasive weeds in your community. Take photographs of invasive weeds and create a bulletin board display in your library or school. Provide information to community planners and land managers.
• Work with your county extension agent, local nature center or land management agency to put up informational signs where weed infestations occur.
• Plant a demonstration garden showing plants that are native to your community.
• Conduct a public awareness campaign to educate local citizens about steps they can take to stop the spread of weeds.

The following information was provided to you by the Bureau of Land Management, an agency of the U.S. Department of the Interior that manages almost 270 million acres of public lands, mostly in the western United States and Alaska.