Invasive species could be ruining your landscaping

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — There are invasive species all over the world that can harm your trees and ruin your landscaping — that includes Rochester.

Invasive species sound scary but we’re talking about pests, insects, and some fungi that come from other parts of the world, and without natural predators, can spread pretty easily. An affected tree can eventually become a hazard if not treated, as it can fall.

“There are a lot of landowners that are concerned with Hemlock Woolly Adelgid and it is impacting their property,” said Jessica Cancelliere a research scientist with the Department of Environmental Conservation, “because they either have mature hemlock trees or they have a lot of hemlock hedges that are providing really highly valued privacy — it’s like a natural fence.”

Cancelliere is talking about an insect that attacks hemlocks. Hemlock trees are native here and common in our forests — and popular landscape trees. “It’s an ongoing battle for us as landscape managers to control these pests so they don’t kill all the hemlock trees,” said Caryl Peck an arborist with Davey Tree.

Peck says invasive species get here through global trade. they come in on shipping containers and materials, move into the forest, and multiply. “The pests just hop a ride and they kind of hitchhike here from Asia or Europe,” he said, “that’s where most of the invasives come from — invasive to us.”

Cancelliere says there’s also concern for forests. “We would consider invasive species one of the biggest threats to forest health and to long-term forest eco-sustainability.” She says this is a result of mismanagement over the years, but she sees a bright side as practices have changed with more research. “Not with every species, and not at every site type, or forest type, but largely in general, we can do a lot to help the problem by just improving our management,” she said

To deal with the problem you can call a qualified professional to assess your property or contact the diagnostic team with the DEC at ForestHealth@DEC.Gov. They can help for free.

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