Announcing A Workshop on Controlling Nonnative, Invasive Plants

Home Owners, Gardeners, Landscape Professionals and Native Plant Lovers

Learn how to control nonnative, invasive plants in your yard, town and watershed in a workshop that will be presented at three different locations: Canton Public Library (April 9), Pembroke Public Library (April 16) and The Spire in Plymouth (May 1). To register, go to: www.watershedaction.org.

This three-hour workshop is designed for people looking for basic information, how-to advice and local expertise. It will include an Overview of nonnative, invasive plant characteristics and control, Case Studies, and How to Move Forward in controlling target plants.

If you have Phragmites blocking your view, knotweed taking over your yard, purple loosestrife spreading along your pond or stream, or other invasive plants that are out of control, you will enjoy this workshop.

Amanda Crouch-Smith, a Professional Wetland Scientist and Certified Invasive Plant Manager, will cover the basics from the characteristics of nonnative, invasive plants and the worst of them in southeastern Massachusetts, to prioritization of species and control options, including mechanical, chemical and biological choices.

Several local property owners will share their experiences with small-scale projects fighting species of local concern. Lessons and advice will be applicable to a wide variety of other invasive plants.

Finally, learn how to move forward with control projects – what regulatory processes might be required, how to find assistance and identify possible funding opportunities, and what nearby community or watershed projects exist to join for results that go beyond a single property’s boundaries.

Attendees will receive several useful resources, including a guide to identifying nonnative, invasive species in Massachusetts, a checklist of steps to follow, and a list of useful websites and publications.

Register soon and save $5! The early bird fee is $15.  Workshops will be $20 at the door.

To register, go to: http://watershedaction.org, or leave a message for the event manager at: 508-746-0769.

The workshops are sponsored by Watershed Action Alliance ofSoutheastern Massachusetts, a coalition of ten watershed and two pond associations, which works to advocate and educate for healthy watersheds and clean, plentiful, and free-flowing water.