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photo of ludwigia at Smith and Bybee Wetlands

Our Big Backyard spring 2018

Explore great places and more in the spring 2018 issue of Our Big Backyard magazine.

Overview
'The game changer'
Getting rid of invasive weeds
Removing 4 dams
Willamette Falls Riverwalk plan approved
Meet Masaaki Muroi
MetroPaint behind the scenes
 

7 awful invasive weeds in local yards and ways to get rid of them

Native evergreen plants in home landscaping
Spring is a great time to tackle removing invasive weeds before they bloom and scatter their seeds. Native plants, such as ferns and the plants in the photo, offer excellent habitat for native wildlife.
Metro logo

7 awful invasive weeds in local yards and ways to get rid of them

By Elaine Stewart
April 13, 2018 1:58 p.m.

Elaine Stewart is a senior natural resources scientist at Metro. Stories with a byline do not necessarily represent the opinions of Metro or the Metro Council.

Any home gardener knows that pesky invasive plants can appear anytime. Here are seven invasive plants that gardeners can tackle in the spring, before they bloom and scatter seeds.

photo of tree of heaven
Tree of heaven. Photo by Dalgial

Tree of heaven: This fast-growing tree spreads quickly by dozens of root-suckers, re-sprouts and by producing enormous quantities of seeds. Because it can grow 10 feet a year, it’s best to identify and control it early. When they are too big to pull, contact an arborist or your local weed control program listed below.

photo of Italian arum
Italian arum. Photo by H. Zell

Italian arum: To control Italian arum, carefully dig out plants as soon they are identified but expect the bulbs and roots to be buried deep. Remove orange seedpod clusters to prevent additional spread. Don’t compost any parts of the plant; toss it all in the trash. And most importantly, don’t share or swap this plant.

photo of spurge laurel
Spurge laurel. Photo courtesy of the City of Portland

Spurge laurel: Spurge laurel can irritate your skin and cause respiratory issues in sensitive people. Always wear gloves and cover arms and legs. The berries, leaves and bark are all poisonous; this is not a good plant to compost. Remove all berries and flowers and bag them and toss in the trash. Pull small plants in spring or winter when soils are soft. Dig out larger plants with roots that are hard to pull.

photo of yellow archangel
Yellow archangel. Photo by Rosser1954

Yellow archangel: Like many garden invaders, yellow archangel can spread by stems, roots and seeds and can escape to natural areas by the improper disposal of yard waste. If your plants have seeds, clip the seed heads carefully and put them in a plastic bag that can be sealed and thrown in the trash. Do not compost or put in yard debris if plants have seeds. Dig carefully in spring to remove all plant parts above and below ground.

photo of lesser celandine
Lesser celandine. Photo by Bob Routledge

Lesser celandine: Lesser celandine is sometimes misidentified as the native marsh marigold. If you have a small infestation, you may be able to dig and gather all the small bulbs and tubers. Do not compost or put in yard debris; they should be bagged and thrown away. For larger infestations or along streams or in wetlands, contact your local weed control program for help. Digging plants in these vulnerable areas can cause soil disturbance and damage.

photo of pokeweed
Pokeweed. Photo by Kathy Shearin

Pokeweed: With striking magenta stems, pokeweed may be shared by neighbors or at plant sales and swaps. It has many toxic parts. It is much easier to control pokeweed when it is small; pull or dig plants and watch for regrowth every year. Flowers, seeds and berries should be bagged and put in the garbage; other parts of the plant can be composted or disposed along with your yard debris.

photo of garlic mustard
Garlic mustard. Photo by Frank Mayfield

Garlic mustard: Hand pull and remove small plants; these can go in compost or yard debris. Older plants, if they have bloomed or begun to produce seed, should be bagged and put in the garbage after pulling.

Additional resources

For more information on these and other weeds, check out the 4-County Cooperative Weed Management Area.

Not sure whether something you want to plant may become a problem? The Portland Plant List provides extensive information on native and invasive plants in the area:

Need to talk with an expert? Contact your local soil and water conservation district (SWCD).

Sign up for the Backyard Habitat Certification Program.

Previous: Part 2

'The game changer'

Invasive ludwigia, an aquatic plant native to South America, threatens to choke backwaters, oxbow lakes and warmer river channels in Oregon. It harms water quality and damages habitat. But it’s not too late to avoid the worst, and a network of groups is battling ludwigia, including Metro at Smith and Bybee Wetlands Natural Area in North Portland.

Next: Part 4

Removing 4 dams

Decades ago a former owner used chunks of concrete and asphalt, rocks, logs and plastic lining to construct four small dams along 300 feet of the creek. The fix for improving Brigman Creek was obvious: remove the dams, let the stream reclaim its path to Johnson Creek, and of course, plant native trees.
 

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