Frequently Asked Questions
Forest Management
Q: I want to be able to enjoy my forest, but there is thorny brush everywhere and I can’t get in - is it a lost cause?
A: No! It is nearly never as bad as it seems and Invasive Species Management as part of the larger Forest Management Plan will organize the work into digestible phases. It will outline of the process of for removal, monitoring, and maintaining a healthy ecological balance in your forest.
Q: Why are these invasive plant species in my forest?
A: Invasive plant species exist in our forests for a number of reasons. First, they were brought here, most often through the horticultural trade and since they have not evolved in this region, they have no competitors. Since they have few competitors, they easily spread through root systems and wind and animal dispersal. While they are not as nutritious for birds, they are eaten by them and spread through seed. As they replace native berries, birds are forced to feast on them, furthering their spread them, It has likely been a hidden, unchecked, vicious cycle for a few years before we even notice.
Q: How do I keep deer from eating all of the native trees?
A: Depending on the forest setting, we install deer and small mammal protection, ranging from critter barriers and tree tubes to 8’ deer exclosures.
Q: It looks like my trees are sick and dying, can you help?
A: Yes! New Leaf Tree Services offers a comprehensive Plant Health Care program that includes diagnosis and treatment for various pests, diseases, and soil issues.
Q: There are a lot of ticks in my forest. How can I enjoy my forest and not get Lyme disease?
A: Thicket-forming invasive species like Japanese Barberry have been known to be “tick magnets”. The thorny dense branches trap humidity, preventing ticks from drying out while providing shelter from predators for ticks and their white-footed mouse hosts. While there are multiple measures one can take to minimize risk of contracting Lyme disease, if you want to be able to roam through your forest worry-free, removing these safe havens for black legged ticks will certainly help. Learn more by following this link!
Garden Maintenance
Q. Can you rake up the leaves in my lawn and give it a mow?
A. We do not provide lawn maintenance. We are in the business of converting lawn to native.
Q. How do I know if I would be monthly or bi-weekly?
A. The frequency of visits is dependent on the site and client’s needs.
Q. What if my garden isn’t native?
A. That is ok! We can still care for your garden if your intention is to move in the direction of increasing native habitat. This means, for example, if a plant needs to be replaced, we would offer appropriate native alternatives that serve the same aesthetic purpose while also providing habitat for native wildlife.
Q. Do you use sprays to take care of pests?
A. We avoid using harmful pesticides. Instead, we learn the life cycle of common pests and intervene by identifying eggs or nymphs and eradicating them by hand. For some pests, we can set up traps at appropriate times before they have ravaged your gardens. For worst case scenarios, we have an in-house plant healthcare team that assists to manage pest issues in a thoughtful and careful way, that balances ecological sustainability with plant health and appearance.
Q. What about herbicides?
A. We avoid using harmful herbicides. We primarily hand-pick weeds or, for larger removal of invasive plant species, we will bring in larger equipment and skilled equipment operators from our team to take care of the job. We also employ occultation and smothering techniques to rid areas of weeds and invasive species, using tarps and cardboard.
Q. The deer eat everything in my garden! How do you take care of that?
A. The deer in this area are no joke – they are plentiful and hungry. The best way to prevent deer from destroying your garden is to install a deer fence around the designated area. However, that is not a realistic solution for everyone. The second best way we keep deer away from your blooms is by applying deer repellent.
Q. Do you maintain ponds?
A. We do not, but we may be able to connect you with a local pond service company.
Invasive Species Removal
Q. If you remove invasive plants, won’t they just grow back?
A. When removing invasive species both by hand and with equipment, our main goal is to completely eradicate the root systems. That said, some of these plants have extensive root systems to the point where it is nearly impossible to remove every single root hair. It is inevitable that some will regrow.
Invasive Species Management involves a management plan.
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First: initial removal. This is the biggest investment. It includes clipping back the growth to a manageable size and hand-digging and/or excavating the root systems.
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Then: monitoring. After that, we will monitor the area and hand-pull invasives periodically throughout the growing season.
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We also offer brush hogging services for larger plots of land.
Q. What’s the difference between a weed and invasive species?
A. “Weed” is a subjective misnomer that is given to any plant that grows where it is unwanted. Weeds can be native or non-native, invasive or non-invasive, and noxious or non-noxious. Invasive plants include noxious weeds AND any plant that is not native to this country or the area where they are growing. As a result, invasive species have no competitors to inhibit their spread.
Q. I love the look of Bittersweet! Should I remove it?
A. Invasive species are slowly decimating our ecology. In most cases, there are native alternatives to invasive species you may find attractive. For instance, there is an American Bittersweet (bigger berries!) that is even more beautiful than its Asian counterpart. By removing invasive species and replacing them with native species we are actively restoring our ecology.
“Invasive species have contributed to the decline of 42% of U.S. endangered and threatened species, and for 18% of U.S. endangered or threatened species, invasives are the main cause of their decline.”
Q. What’s the best time of year to do invasive species management?
A. While we offer this service year-round, (yes, even in the winter) this largely depends on the weather and what kind of season we’re having. Though it doesn’t always happen this way, the best time to remove invasive species is ideally before they flower and spread their seeds. If we have an unseasonably warm spring, some species may flower sooner than they have in previous years. If we have a cold, late start to the season, some species may be behind schedule when it comes to bloom times.
Q. What can we do to mitigate the spread of invasive species?
A. Aside from removing and properly disposing of invasive species (keep it tidy!), “planting native” is a big one. By planting native, we are creating food and habitat for the wildlife that depend on these species, thus preserving biodiversity. Applying a thick layer of locally-sourced mulch will also help keep invasives down, following removal. Here at New Leaf, we chip the trees we fell, so all of the wood chips and mulch we generate are comprised of 100% local wood. Lastly, we recommend to keep a watchful eye. Part of our invasive species management plan involves monitoring cleared areas and returning periodically to keep them in check.
Q. Want to learn more about invasive plants species?
A. Here’s a great local resource from the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Columbia and Greene Counties.
