Another reason to not plant non-native species

I like to read it just for the idiotic comments..."Why are non native shrubs not outlawed by our country so as not to effect our own native plants??" Yep, we all hate tomatoes, potatoes, apples, pears, peaches, fescue grass for cattle, and the 10's of thousands of other non natives that feed us, landscape our yards, and supply feed to our livestock. Why not outlaw all non native animals too... Cows, hogs, dogs, and even the Canadian strain black bears that were killed in PA? People are so singularly minded in their thought processes sometimes.
 
I agree 100%. It's just a prime example of research not being done. I bet if the homeowners new the berries were poisonous they wouldn't have selected that bush to plant.
 
Whether something is native or non native has nothing to do with whether or not we should plant it.

There are important factors to be considered in deciding whether or not to plant a particular species, but where it originated is not one of them.

I have no opinion or comments on yews and dead bears. When someone rids the planet of poison hemlock and the thousands of other toxic plants in this country, I will start a petition to get rid of yews - except for the ones me and Johnny needs to make bows with.
 
What about the autumn olive? i hear a lot of good and bad things about this bush! I was considering planting some to create thickets. i visited a place where it was planted and it is a deer and bear magnet. not to mention a ton of other wildlife species? what care your thoughts ?
 
Dennis Duffy said:
What about the autumn olive? i hear a lot of good and bad things about this bush! I was considering planting some to create thickets. i visited a place where it was planted and it is a deer and bear magnet. not to mention a ton of other wildlife species? what care your thoughts ?
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The problem with Autumn Olive is that it's invasive and will out compete native vegetation, creating a mono culture, plus birds spread the seed far and wide, so neighbors should be considered.
 
I hear comments from time to time against "sawtooth oak" because they are not native. People can have their opinion as long as they leave it on their land. On my land I intend to plant sawtooth oak because whitetail deer love them and they grow well in my region of the country.

I regret I didn't plant them sooner but we are working on catching up - got many opportunities now that the timber crews are gone.

I like Doctorbrady's post because tomatoes and potatoes are classic examples of why an open mind has it advantages. ;)
 
Brushpile said:
The problem with Autumn Olive is that it's invasive and will out compete native vegetation, creating a mono culture, plus birds spread the seed far and wide, so neighbors should be considered.
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Yeah i have heard this too about the autumn olive. I want to plant something that grows fast and produces food for wildlife. any thoughts?
 
Dennis Duffy said:
Yeah i have heard this too about the autumn olive. I want to plant something that grows fast and produces food for wildlife. any thoughts?
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I like Chickasaw plum for making thickets and dropping g fruit. They will sucker but don't seem to get out of hand.
 
The big takeaway there is to just be sure to think things all the way through before you get to planting or cutting down. I'd love to wage war on aspen and birch trees where I hunt, but they serve a purpose too. So instead of an all out assault, it's a reasoned thinning over time.
 
Blanket statements never work, the answer is never easy and it is always "It depends". So I should have phrased the title differently.

"Another reason to research non-natives before planting"

This way the planter can do their research and determine if that species works for them, or if they should pick another plant.

I always assumed it was an evolutionary thing. Animals knew what toxic plants to avoid. But if a new plant is introduced the animals just don't know? I could be off base.
 
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The "don't blanket statement" falls true here. I've seen lots of olive trees planted here. They seem to survive ok, but certainly don't spread and become invasive. I've got other species that do though and I wish they had nevery seen my dirt.
 
wbpdeer said:
I hear comments from time to time against "sawtooth oak" because they are not native. People can have their opinion as long as they leave it on their land. On my land I intend to plant sawtooth oak because whitetail deer love them and they grow well in my region of the country.

I regret I didn't plant them sooner but we are working on catching up - got many opportunities now that the timber crews are gone.

I like Doctorbrady's post because tomatoes and potatoes are classic examples of why an open mind has it advantages. ;)
Click to expand...

Fair enough comments about people can have their opinion as long as they leave it on their land, but I think at a minimum one needs to consider how any tree/bush/plant spreads and the possibility that others don't share their affinity for non-native species. We all know how much work it can be to rid your property of an unwanted species. When I think of the damage done through the introduction of foreign diseases it's a real shame, American Chestnuts and now all the Ash trees. I agree with DocBrady's sentiment on the stupidity of someone calling for a blanket ban on invasives, but think it's also the neighborly and moral thing to carefully consider the spreading of non-natives when looking at our own properties.


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I'm thinking I need to know more from those who are so worried about invasives. Do you have a lot of land fallow and in Gov programs or are you worried about them taking over cultivated lands?
 
My post was on the sawtooth oak. I was specific and I have invested a good deal of time researching them.

I was not worried when I made the decision because I did read up first. Just is a surprise to hear some say no to the sawtooth because is not native.

I do agree there are plants/trees/shrubs I don't need to plant for me or the fact that my neighbor might be impacted.

Wayne
 
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