Spring is good time to control invasive plants

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) - The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department says spring is a good time to control invasive plants that are making their way onto property.

Elizabeth Spinney, the invasive plant coordinator with the Agency of Natural Resources, says invasive plants are typically the first ones to leaf out in the spring.

She says getting rid of them makes room for native plants and helps local wildlife. She also says areas with fewer invasive plants tend to have lower rates of infectious disease such as Lyme disease, because rodents and ticks thrive around many invasive plant species.

Spinney recommends starting with a few plants that are relatively easy to manage such as honeysuckle, Japanese barberry, buckthorn, and garlic mustard.

Photos of the plants or tips on managing them are available online at www.vtinvasives.org .