Some non-native species fall into the invasive category, and these plants should never be planted in our yards. What makes invasive plants so unique is their ability to reproduce at an alarming rate. For instance, one Purple Loosestrife plant, a plant choking out everything in our local swamps, can produce thousands of seeds in one season. Purple Loosestrife is altering our wetland ecosystem in a negative way.

Looking at a few other plants that have already altered our natural environment, Norway Maple is the king of the bad boys from a shade tree standpoint. It’s a fast growing densely canopied tree, and once it escapes into the wild, it colonizes so quickly that not much else can grow. More environmentally friendly choices in shade trees would be Sugar Maple, Tulip Poplar, Gum, Oak, Beech, and Hickory.

Callery Pear is another invasive species that I would not plant. Instead, try the American Plum, Redbud, Shadbush, or Flowering Dogwood. These natives will bring in migrating birds and create diversity in our yards.

Three shrubs I would avoid are Burning Bush, Russian Olive, and Barberry. Recent studies are telling us that forest floors heavily populated with Barberry have a higher density of ticks. Mice often carry these parasites. The White-Footed Mouse is the carrier of Lyme Disease and because predators cannot penetrate these sharp shrubs, the ticks carry the disease throughout the mouse population and tick-borne illnesses thrive here. Plant Winterberry, Blueberry, Viburnum, Spicebush, Pussywillow, St. Johnswort, Clethra, Chokeberry, and Itea instead.

Avoid and eradicate vines that are choking out many of our backyard forests. Bittersweet, Mile-A-Minute, and Japanese Wisteria are the top three culprits. Try instead wild Grapes, Trumpet Vine, native Honeysuckle, American Wisteria, and our native fall flowering Clematis in the garden.

By getting to the root of the plants and the problem, removing these invasives from our property and replacing them with natives will help balance our natural world.

It’s very important to understand that as our local climate changes and goes through fluctuations, we’ll need to observe and learn how our plants are adapting to these extremes. Native plants, because they have acclimated to our soil and climate, have amazing ways of adjusting to these weather anomalies.

When a plant goes into stress because of quick weather changes, try watering first. Proper hydration helps build stronger stems and healthier leaves. Don’t fertilize plants under stress. Fertilizing a plant under stress is putting the plant under additional duress. Cut out any foliage that has been deformed or damaged because of weather stress. This will encourage healthier growth. If a plant does succumb to disease or other infestation due to weather extremes, use low-impact pesticides if necessary.

Getting to know your plants’ growing cycles and how to care for them and keep them in good health, in all types of weather conditions, can be a fun challenge.

Here are a few additional tips to get you started:
- Create densely planted gardens rather than individual plants surrounded by islands of mulch.
- Don’t remove leaf litter. It’s free mulch, free fertilizer, free weed control, free soil amendment, and a great soil conditioner.
- Create plant communities by planting a wide variety of native trees, shrubs, and perennials that have adapted to our local environment.

If every one of us did our part and planted a “Habitat Island Sanctuary” in our yard, think about the possibilities of it connecting each yard and every community coast to coast. I dare you to give it a try!

Proper downspout and footing drains should be installed around the house during construction and renovation. Drainage patterns can become challenging, especially when working with steep grades where water gains momentum and can cause erosion problems.

Rain Gardening is a fairly new, exciting concept that is an environmentally friendly approach by managing surface runoff and, at the same time, creating a garden unlike any we have ever planted. Installation of Rain Gardens will regenerate cleaner ground water and introduce many of us to a wildlife-friendly group of plants that will open our senses to some interesting natives. These kettle areas are zones in our landscape that allow water to slowly and cleanly regenerate groundwater. This concept is so important, especially in the Pawling area, because we are the headwaters to the Croton Reservoir system which is a New York City water supply.

New rules and regulations on how we manage our storm water runoff are now new laws. Anything we can do in our yards to sustain cleaner water and to preserve the environment might just save us money in the future. I call this smart landscaping.

Proper downspout and footing drains should be installed around the house during construction and renovation. Drainage patterns can become challenging, especially when working with steep grades where water gains momentum and can cause erosion problems.

Rain Gardening is a fairly new, exciting concept that is an environmentally friendly approach by managing surface runoff and, at the same time, creating a garden unlike any we have ever planted. Installation of Rain Gardens will regenerate cleaner ground water and introduce many of us to a wildlife-friendly group of plants that will open our senses to some interesting natives. These kettle areas are zones in our landscape that allow water to slowly and cleanly regenerate groundwater. This concept is so important, especially in the Pawling area, because we are the headwaters to the Croton Reservoir system which is a New York City water supply.

New rules and regulations on how we manage our storm water runoff are now new laws. Anything we can do in our yards to sustain cleaner water and to preserve the environment might just save us money in the future. I call this smart landscaping.

In the Hudson Valley, the calendar may say spring at the end of March each year but it’s that first sunny, warm April Saturday when all eyes focus on the yard. That’s the day we strap on the overalls, organize the tool shed, set the kids up with their peas and spinach seeds and wander into the garden. This year, let’s try some new and exciting methods of working in the yard and at the same time be taking a more ecologically friendly approach.

In our region, spring is the best time to plant trees, shrubs and perennials because the plants have one growing season to acclimate to their new home. It’s important to put the proper plant in the right location. A plant that has adapted to shady, moist soils will be much more susceptible to pests and diseases if placed in dry soil and in full sun. In most cases, it’s best to move a plant that is clearly in the wrong spot then try to keep the plant healthy by using pesticides, fertilizers and water. Plants that are native to our region are the best choice. Native species have proven themselves over time.

Try to create a diversified habitat in the landscape. This is where the kids can be an important part of the decision making on to what to plant. For a hedge, we will have more success with different plants than a wall of one type of tree or shrub. A bed filled with shrubs, perennials and bulbs is much healthier for the environment than a rose garden.

Native plants that produce nectar, pollen and fruit are a good source of food for natural predators that feed on harmful pests. For instance, aphids that attack honeysuckle are gobbled up by ladybugs, which in turn are eaten by the birds. Various plants that attract beneficial insects belong to the carrot (dill & parsley), mint (lemon balm & thyme), cabbage (radishes, mustard & broccoli) and the daisy family. All of these plants would look great in the home landscape. Don’t forget to plant a few conifers where wildlife can take shelter in the winter.

With the exception of those plants that thrive in poor soil, most plants can benefit from the addition of compost. Compost makes an ideal soil amendment and adds body and enriches the soil in the landscape.

Fertilizing when planting trees and shrubs is generally not recommended. Fertilizers should only be used when soil tests show nutrient deficiencies, for plants grown in containers, and to pep up a plant that has suffered considerable stress. Use organic, natural, slow release fertilizers when needed.

Use a mulch that consists of wood chips, leaf mold, and a ground root and bark material. This mix will build and support nutrients in the soil, suppresses weeds and their germination, keep the soil cooler by moderating soil temperature, conserve moisture, and protect the plant from mechanical injury by machinery. Avoid mulch volcanoes around trees. Too much mulch or mulch too deep can also cause problems. Two to three inches of this mulch is my recommendation.

When plants need water it’s important to water properly. New plants must not be allowed to dry out before they are fully established. Once well established, most trees, shrubs and perennials do just fine with natural rainfall. In fact, a plant that is well suited to its growing conditions should not need to be watered unless there is an extended drought. Water deeply and try to avoid wetting the foliage so as not to encourage fungal diseases. Water is probably the most important element in caring for new plants. Since a newly transplanted tree or shrub has not extended its roots into the existing soil, adequate moisture needs to reach the root ball. Soil type and the amount of rainfall govern the amount of watering necessary. On most well drained soils, one inch of water per week throughout the summer and fall is required to establish and maintain growth. In sandy soils, two inches of water per week is needed.

Now is the time to get down on your knees and get your nails dirty. Don’t forget to keep the kids hydrated and keep the sun-block handy on those bluebird, sunny days. Have fun!!

*Found in the Taconic Press weekend magazine April 08'.

Manhattan Island was a rocky woodland wilderness heavily vegetated with large trees, ponds and water ways. Similar to what can be seen in Central Park today. Brooklyn was a maze of brooks, as you may have guessed and early trappers write about catching beaver the size of small bears. The rest of Long Island, because it was where the last glacier ended, is a rocky hardwood forest to the north and a sandy scrub pine forest to the south and east. A pine barren forest ecosystem that depends on fire to regenerate. Long Island had a unique grassy meadow area at its center called the Hempstead Plains. The New Jersey meadowland was one of the largest pristine wetlands on the east coat and was home to many diverse bird species. Early American hunters tell the story of wild turkey forty pounds and larger. The lower Hudson Valley region was a mountain wilderness of upland game birds, deer, elk, moose, wolf, bear and eastern cougar.

Many, but not all, of these animals mentioned are long gone and their absence has altered many of the local ecosystems. For instance, the white-tailed deer herd has grown out of control in many areas because of an imbalance that has occurred between predator and prey. I saw old photos, not long ago, of what the Pawling area looked like 100 years ago. It was mostly under agriculture and you could count the trees on the hills in the landscape.

In the last 70 years the forests have re-generated and when the trees came back so did the wildlife. Turkey started reappearing in the 1970’s. Coyote are once again common place. Bear sightings are more numerous and moose are working their way back into the area.

As responsible land stewards we need to keep these wilderness areas in place and expand upon them where we can. It’s important for human and animal well being that we continue in this direction and bring this natural balance back into our area. Its time set and be an example.

Generally speaking, each tree grows at a rate depending on its location and soil availability to reach maturity between fifty and one hundred & fifty years (it pays to be organic). In that time period, the tree goes through many growth changes but its ultimate goal is to reach full canopy. Safety pruning your trees to remove dead, broken and diseased wood and let air flow thru the canopy, will help the tree control diseases and pests. Pruning trees should be done by a professional with the proper equipment. Now is the time to call a local tree company to schedule tree work before the spring sap flow.

Shrub pruning follows the same concept only on a smaller scale. Prune the shrub to bring out its natural shape. Pruning shrubs in geometric shapes is very unnatural and can stress out the plant and alter its blooming cycle.

I’d like to finish by saying, in emergency, shrubs and trees can be pruned at any time of the year. When you have the time and patience, that’s the time to prune.