Native replacement plants for invasive species
Once you’ve begun to remove the invasive species from your property, consider planting native species to fill the spaces. Protect the new plantings from deer and rodents by installing some type of fencing around the plants until they become established.
A word of caution about seeds: if invasive species have dropped or dispersed their seeds in your project area, they will remain viable for years to come. We do not recommend native seeding in areas that have an invasive species “seed bank” in the soil. We recommend planting plugs (cell-packs) or potted plants, followed by a layer of wood-based mulch. Mulch depth should be three to four inches deep to smother most weed seeds on the soil surface, while retaining moisture for the new plants. Learn more about the benefits of mulch. When mulching, be careful not to smother wild flowers. Of course, some weeding will always be necessary.
- Replacement plants for buckthorn (PDF), shrubs and small trees)
- Replacement plants for garlic mustard (PDF, easy native woodland wildflowers and groundcovers)
- Forest type fact sheets:
- Wetland buffer plant list (PDF)
- Native plant suppliers (PDF, MN, WI, IA, SD)
- Native plant communities in the Twin Cities (Great River Greening Website contains East-central MN species lists for 31 native plant communities)
- Minnesota Native Plant Society
