One smart Reddit user has displayed how removing invasive plants, including bittersweet and autumn olive, can help a landscape return to its natural beauty.
You can clearly see the marked difference in the before/after pictures posted to the r/Landscaping subreddit.
And what did they use for this magnificent job? "Hand pruners, battery hedge trimmers, Sawzall, and an arborist saw depending on the circumstances."
A Redditor based in New England commented that bittersweet is "my nemesis" there, with the original poster replying that "all the homies hate bittersweet." Another suggested removing the entire plant or taking precautions to ensure it can't grow back.
The original poster added that phragmites will be a longer-term project that will require them to "stay on top and cut them back often while other plants can get a foothold and outcompete."
The benefits of taking out invasive plant species far outweigh the aesthetic aspects; indeed, they threaten the entire ecosystem around them.
Stay hydrated and refreshed this holiday season — without any sugar or harmful additives Nuun’s zero-sugar hydration tablets are a perfect, guilt-free way to enhance your water throughout the day. You’ll get five essential electrolytes for everyday hydration — with zero grams of sugar. Plus, Nuun tablets are certified vegan and gluten-free, and they’re the perfect size to keep in your car, purse, or anywhere you'll want a healthy, restorative drink. Learn more → |
According to the National Audubon Society, removing invasives is just the first step in protecting the ecosystem. The next step vital to preserving biodiversity is restoring native plants to the area. By installing a native plant garden, you'll be able to sustain a livable landscape for birds and other animals.
Native plants are those that occur naturally in the area in which they evolved. They have evolved together with local animal life to produce an infrastructure that plants, insects, and animals rely on to survive.
There are many benefits of landscaping with native plants. Plants are generally healthier and stronger in their native environment and climate, which saves you time and money on maintenance — and they can help decrease pollution because they take away the need for mowers and heavy equipment. Because they've evolved to thrive in their area, they bring a healthier ecosystem for local pollinators.
To help with the environment, xeriscaping — the process of landscaping that lessens or even eliminates any need for irrigation — is becoming more and more popular, and native plants fit right in with that approach.
There's a reason dermatologists personally use this daily moisturizing sunscreen more than any other brand Dermatologists see and understand skin at a much deeper level than the rest of us, and they know that the perfect SPF both protects and corrects your skin. That's why they trust, recommend, and personally use EltaMD more than any other brand. EltaMD's clinically tested formulas are designed with dermatologists to meet the needs of any skin type or condition. They're also designed for consistent daily wear to build long-term resilience with a moisturizing, lightweight, non-comedogenic texture — plus hyaluronic acid to help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Learn more → |
There are many eco-friendly, low-maintenance options that can help you xeriscape. Examples include buffalo grass, clover, yucca, artichoke agave, prickly pear cactus, lantana, native milkweed, blue mistflower, salvia, Turk's cap, guara, and firebush.
TCD has its own starter's guides to either rewild your yard or switch to a natural lawn.
Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more and waste less, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Cool Picks
