BLOG: What do Stink Bugs and English Ivy Have in Common

This week's post comes to us from Sue Livera, member of the Bowie Green Team and one of our "Weed Warriors"! 

What can Stink Bugs and the beautiful-sounding English Ivy possibly have in common?? 

They are both INVASIVE SPECIES. Both are taking over our properties and our homes and - we don’t want them! Who knows anyone who isn’t bothered by the presence of the stink bug, which has no natural predators in our area? But English Ivy - invasive? How is this seemingly innocent plant something we may not want?

While it was imported with good intentions, Hedera helix (my mother taught me if I wanted to sound like a knowledgable gardener I should learn and speak Latin) can grow to choke out other plants and create "ivy deserts". Ivy can easily escape from cultivated gardens and invade nearby parks, forests and other natural areas. Ivy can climb into the canopy of trees in such density that the trees fall over from the weight, a problem which does not normally occur in its native range. For this reason, it is especially important to remove ivy from trees. In its mature form, dense ivy can destroy habitat for native wildlife and create large sections of solid ivy where no other plants can develop. 

English Ivy has invaded Bowie and the city’s Green Team has a plan to do something to help reduce its impact. Volunteers are being trained about how to remove and reduce the volume. Soon opportunities will be provided to teach you how to eliminate it from your property. We hope you may even work with us to make this difference - to save our trees. Whitemarsh Park is our first target recommended to us as a result of a study recently completed for the city. It is high time to learn to be more mindful of our environment. 

Do you have English Ivy in your yard? Want to help us attack these invasive plants and restore the natural ecological balance? Tell us what you think in the comments section!

Coming Up: In our next post, we'll let you know all about the upcoming Green Team sustainability booth at the Bowie Farmer's Market! 

The Bowie Green Team meets every 3rd Monday at City Hall and are open to the public. The Green Team subcommittees also welcome visitors to their meetings, and welcome those interested in volunteering to assist with their projects. Please email greenbowieblog@gmail.com for more information.