.JPG)
Invasive Species Program
RBCA is committed to raising awareness of invasive species in our community
Bird Cherry and Choke Cherry
European Bird Cherry or Mayday (Prunus padus) and Red Canadian Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) trees are common ornamental trees that have become invasive in Alaska. They grow well and produce fruit that the birds love. The trees spread from root, stumps, stems and by seed. You may think it’s not a big deal because they are contained in people’s yards but rogue patches of Bird Cherry been found growing in the Seward area, south of Moose Pass and along the Kenai River crowding out native plants. Their bark also contains cyanide which can kill moose if they eat it. The easiest ways to identify them is by looking at the leaves which are dark green and elliptical with serrated edges. New leaves of the Red Chokecherry are initially green then turn dark red. The trees bloom in late May or early June and the flowers are small, white and very aromatic. Fruits are small clusters of dark black “cherries” that hang from the tree in August. See the images here for other tips to correctly identify it. Small trees (less than 2 inch diameter) can be uprooted. Once removed, take it to the brush pile at the dump so it gets burned and doesn't spread. If your tree is too big to uproot, contact the Alaska Invasive Species Partnership or call 907-235-8177 x117. They are working with Seward residents and businesses interested in permanent removal. As hard as it is to take down a tree, it really does benefit our native species. If you would like to replace it with something else, here are a few good alternatives: Amur Maple, Crab Apple, Amur Chokecherry, Elderberry or Serviceberry. A recently formed state-wide working group is dedicated to getting a state-wide ban on the sale of these two species. Always remember that just because a plant or tree being sold at an Alaskan nursery doesn't mean it is native to Alaska or safe to plant. Know before you buy!
Thank you for helping keep Seward wild!
Thank you for helping keep Seward wild!
.jpg)
Click on images to download
.jpg)
Bird Vetch
RBCA recently received a mini grant from the Seward Community Foundation SCF to purchase a weed trimmer and weed barrier material to manage the infestation of Bird Vetch at the middle school and elementary school. This program will be happening throughout the summer (as vetch tends to regrow after it's been trimmed) and for many years to come in order to get the population under control.
The photo on the left is a "before" shot. The vetch was removed and then covered with weed proof ground cloth.
Bird Vetch (also called "Sweet Pea" by some) looks like a jumbled mess of a vine-like plant with small opposite leaves that may remind you of a pea plant. The flowers are in small clusters usually pink to light purple in color. It spreads by root and seed and is highly effective at crowding out any nearby plants. It is in small patches around town and most notably a large area around the backside of the middle school.
Here are some very good photos to help with identification:https://www.invasiveplantatlas.org/subject.html?sub=13109
Also see the brochure from the UAF Cooperative Extension Service below.
The best ways to keep it under control is to mow or pull it before it flowers. This will need to be done a couple times through the summer as it very happily grows back. If pulling, do it when the soil is moist so you get as much as the root as possible. If it has already flowered, carefully cut the flower heads and put them into a plastic bag. Close it well and take it to the dump. It will take a few years of persistent pulling or mowing before you’ll get it under control, but it will happen. Avoid planting anything new in the same area until you are sure it is mostly gone. Otherwise you might disturb your new plant when pulling out the bird vetch.
Here are some native alternatives to plant instead: Yarrow Wild geranium Columbine Alaska rose bushes
Happy pulling!
Here are some very good photos to help with identification:https://www.invasiveplantatlas.org/subject.html?sub=13109
Also see the brochure from the UAF Cooperative Extension Service below.
The best ways to keep it under control is to mow or pull it before it flowers. This will need to be done a couple times through the summer as it very happily grows back. If pulling, do it when the soil is moist so you get as much as the root as possible. If it has already flowered, carefully cut the flower heads and put them into a plastic bag. Close it well and take it to the dump. It will take a few years of persistent pulling or mowing before you’ll get it under control, but it will happen. Avoid planting anything new in the same area until you are sure it is mostly gone. Otherwise you might disturb your new plant when pulling out the bird vetch.
Here are some native alternatives to plant instead: Yarrow Wild geranium Columbine Alaska rose bushes
Happy pulling!
.jpg)
Red Campion
A Pretty (sneaky) Flower:
Red Campion or Catchfly (Silene dioica) is a perennial that is frequently planted in gardens and landscaping around homes. Unfortunately it tends to sneak off and start growing in other unintended places and out compete native plants. It is increasingly being seen around Seward and it's time to put the reins on its spread.
If you have it in your yard or garden, keep it to a confined area and pull any "volunteer" seedlings. Once it has flowered, cut off the heads and don't allow it to go to seed. The seeds can live in the ground for up to 5 years and still sprout under the right conditions. If it has gone to seed, carefully bag up the seed heads and put them in the trash. Do not put them in your lawn/yard waste pile as they will likely grow there.
Mowing and pulling them is not effective as it tends to disturb the soil and allow new seeds to sprout. The best defense is to cut the heads once they've flowered to avoid seed production.
Be aware before you buy! Just because you can buy it at a local nursery does not mean it won't be harmful to our native species. Most Silene species are invasive in Alaska. Here are a few websites to check out before you shop in the spring:https://accs.uaa.alaska.edu/invasive-species/non-native-plant-species-list/. This ranks the "invasiveness" of plants (0 = okay; 100 = worst) by scientific or common name. Another good resource is www.kenaiinvasives.org.
If you have it in your yard or garden, keep it to a confined area and pull any "volunteer" seedlings. Once it has flowered, cut off the heads and don't allow it to go to seed. The seeds can live in the ground for up to 5 years and still sprout under the right conditions. If it has gone to seed, carefully bag up the seed heads and put them in the trash. Do not put them in your lawn/yard waste pile as they will likely grow there.
Mowing and pulling them is not effective as it tends to disturb the soil and allow new seeds to sprout. The best defense is to cut the heads once they've flowered to avoid seed production.
Be aware before you buy! Just because you can buy it at a local nursery does not mean it won't be harmful to our native species. Most Silene species are invasive in Alaska. Here are a few websites to check out before you shop in the spring:https://accs.uaa.alaska.edu/invasive-species/non-native-plant-species-list/. This ranks the "invasiveness" of plants (0 = okay; 100 = worst) by scientific or common name. Another good resource is www.kenaiinvasives.org.
.jpg)
Best resource for Alaska invasives
https://apps.bugwood.org/apps/alaska
