April was invasive plant, pest, and disease awareness month and a great time to remove invasives on your property. As part of our annual Crum Creek Clean-Up on April 29, volunteers continued our ongoing efforts to remove and control invasives in the Crum Woods.  Many large trees were liberated from the strangling vines of English ivy, naturalized wisteria, and Oriental bittersweet.  Home gardeners should attempt to remove these aggressive plants from their properties as well.

Invasive vines compete with the tree they grow on for sunlight. After encircling a towering tree to reach the sunlight, the vine branches out and shades the tree’s own foliage. In addition to competing for the same sunlight, vines add weight to the tree, causing broken and damaged limbs and trunks. These aggressive vines vigorously compete and damage our native tree canopy.

Director Claire Sawyers helping to sever invasive vines growing in the Crum Woods. photo credit: R. Robert

To remove invasive plants from your property, dig them out of the ground when possible. If the vine is too large, at least, cut it off at the base of the tree. While your tree may look rough for a year or two as the vine dies and falls out, vigor will return to your specimen with the loss of the competition.

Volunteer Jim Ortoleva saws invasive vines from trees in the Crum Woods. photo credit: R. Robert

Due to the size and age of the trees and vines in the Crum Woods, volunteers focus their efforts on cutting the two to three caliber vines at the base of the trees.

Volunteers removed 20 bags of trash from the Crum Creek. photo credit: R. Robert

In addition invasive control, 35 volunteers, staff, and students removed: 7 tires, 20 trash bags, 1 inflatable swimming pool, picnic table and parts, metal barrel, traffic barrel, pressurized wood, chicken wire, plastic ramp, sheet metal, and toilet parts. Thank you to everyone for their help!