How to approach invasive plant control

funny, not funny

In late summer it is easy to be overwhelmed by the amount of damaging invasive Japanese stilt grass and beefsteak (and other invasives) in Bent Tree. It is tempting to throw up your hands and head to the Tavern bar, turn on Outlander reruns, or develop a severe case of plant blindness and pretend you don't see it or don't know how awful it is for the Bent Tree ecosystem.

Instead of turning a blind eye, remember the philosophy expressed in this quote.

“I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do.” - Edward Everett Hale

On a practical note, there are two strategies that help keep me sane, and might help you.

1) Define the perimeter of your defensible space - whether it be a part or all of your property, or expands to your road front, or is a common space, pick a physical area to focus on and eliminate the invasive plants in that space. Take a 'NOT HERE' mentality for the chosen space where you can be successful and revel in the results!

2) Don't just remove the stilt grass (or other invasive) but enlist the support of native plants to help in the fight. After all, the overall goal is not to have NOTHING growing, but to have better stuff growing, stuff that adds value to the ecosystem. Take some ideas from this 'oldie but goodie' post on how to fight plants with plants. How to Fight Plants with Plants - Humane Gardener

NOTE: If you truly don't want anything at all growing, OK. But please do get rid of the invasives so they do not continue to spread. It's like noise or outdoor lighting, it doesn't stop at your property line. So be a good citizen and manage harmful plants on your property that degrade Bent Tree overall.

Thanks for doing what you can!