Invasive Bush Honeysuckle Truths, Lies, and Alternatives

[@BackyardEcology]

If you have a good story about eradicating bush honeysuckle, or even a horror story about it not being controlled please share it in the comments! To see a woods-walk that points out several species of woody invasives in the winter, check out this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aGLUpp9rl7aAsNE

[@tapestrycrochet]

You need to be careful when buying highbush cranberry because the invasive European variety is often sold as being the American non-invasive variety. That happened to me. It took several years for me to realize the deception.

[@BackyardEcology]

Absolutely! And you should be aware of what you are getting with any native plant purchase as other species, American beautyberry comes to mind, are often exotic species sold as the native. I don't think this is done on purpose most of the time, but is a result of a miss ID on seeds or cutting stock. If something doesn't look right after the plant flowers or fruits its time to dig a little deeper and see if it is in fact a non-native.

[@hopeful1569]

I have been removing invasive bush honeysuckle and am being rewarded with increased trillium, wild ginger, false sarsaparilla, etc.❤ Sadly, years ago I was told they had shallow roots and to be concerned with other plants first. Gradually conquering it now AND adding native plants from a reputable local nusery. St. Lawrence Nursery in Potsdam, NY!

[@BackyardEcology]

Sounds like you are making good progress! Keep it up!

[@slaturwinters1828]

My home is surrounded by these, Ive cut them all down (some where 20 years old) and built a deadhedge out of all the wood

[@libbywells5499]

Thank you for this! I wasn't not aware of the compounds in the leaves polluting the waterways. I also just learned about some invasive species like Autumn Olive leech nitrogen into waterways if they're growing nearby and kill the biota that way as well. Love the channel, keep up the good work!

[@BackyardEcology]

Thanks! There are many impacts of invasive plants that go beyond the easily seen.

[@awildapproach]

Fantastic video! Thanks for sharing this.

[@BackyardEcology]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@brigittebilodeau8579]

You are so interesting , I have watched many videos , webinars and you are a very thorough. Thank you

[@BackyardEcology]

Thank you!

[@matchpoint14]

Every place on my little 2 acres that I clear out with my tractor pops up tons of wild blackberries. I am so blessed. I pick 3 gallons a year, which is not easy btw. This year I am going for 4 gallons. I have more this year than I have ever seen. It is very good work out. Now if they were all right there at shoulder height it would be fine, but you have lean and stretch and squat and bend, it is back breaking to get all of them. If I want to go light and just pick the easy ones I may only get half a gallon

[@BackyardEcology]

I don't think there is an easy way to pick a bunch of wild blackberries. But they are worth it!

[@GloryDaysDesign]

Best eco videos on youtube.

[@BackyardEcology]

Thank you so much!

[@Lime_poptart]

Would love the follow-up on how to best eradicate this! I suspected foul play when I saw a lot of these blooming on my property and while I'm happy to confirm my suspicions of too much of a specific thing, I'd love to know how to tackle these! if there already is a video and I just missed it scrolling through the others, a link in the comment would be wonderful !

[@BackyardEcology]

There will be more on invasive species and control coming in the future!

[@rangedeliveryn]

Nobody does a thorough job on teaching us how to identify the invasive honeysuckles. I have purchased some and I own 20 acres and I’d like to know before I plant them

[@BackyardEcology]

If purchased from a reputable nursery the plants should have been tagged with the scientific name. If not you will have to cut a twig - our native honeysuckles in the genus Diervilla will have a slid white pith and the invasive species will have a hollow brown pith.

[@MymusicW630]

Omg! I'm freaking out now!😩 Last year a little bush just popped up in my yard. I let it grow to see what it was. It's gotten a little bigger this year but it's under 3 feet. It looks so cute and I haven't seen any berries. Now watching this video. I think I need to pull it out. I hate to kill a beautiful plant but I definitely don't want it to take over.

[@BackyardEcology]

If it is a bush honeysuckle get it out before it has a chance to make seed or it will be everywhere.

[@StevenSmith-7t391]

Great video. What can you say about buckthorn, the other terrible invasive species I contend with?

[@BackyardEcology]

Buckthorn is one I don't have to deal with - yet. I am sure it is only a matter of time before it starts popping up around here, but so far I have not seen any. I will likely do a video on it in the future since it is such a huge problem in many areas.

[@raphlvlogs271]

what Bush Honeysuckle berries are to wildlife is just like what fast food and junk foods are to humans

[@BackyardEcology]

Exactly!

[@Pwrcritter]

Here its honeysuckle, japanese knotweed.

[@BackyardEcology]

Japanese knotweed is a nightmare of an invasive. Stuff is tough to deal with.

[@jerryclark5725]

I have noticed that a high percent of invasives are good for the invading honey bee. It makes sense.

[@matchpoint14]

are some like a vine? I just saw some coming up but it looks like a long vine

[@BackyardEcology]

That is most likely Japanese honeysuckle, another invasive species. There are also some native vine honeysuckles, but the white flowered Japanese honeysuckle is much more common.

[@davehendricks4824]

Buckthorn is a bigger problem on my property.

[@BackyardEcology]

With invasives where you are located has a lot to do with what is the most common. In my area buckthorn is not even an issue, but I know of places farther north that are covered with it. A touch south of here most people would say privet is the biggest problem. On our farm privet, autumn olive, callery pear and bush honeysuckle are all about equal with a good dose of multiflora rose thrown in.

[@davehendricks4824]

@@BackyardEcology (I’m in Wisconsin.)

[@BackyardEcology]

@@davehendricks4824 definitely a hotspot for buckthorn!

[@PLeejo]

​@@davehendricks4824 yep. Had someone actually suggest it for privacy cuz it grows so fast.

[@laurawalters7973]

Just moved here last summer. I’ve now discovered that my little half acre is loaded with bush honeysuckle. Sigh. I can get rid of most of them, but several are down a very steep slope and I’m not sure how I’ll manage those.

[@BackyardEcology]

Steep slopes that can't be easily or safely walked on are tough to manage anything on.

[@stephenpickard3150]

I had never seen bush honeysuckle in my part of the state. I used to work around Lexington and they are THICK there. Where did they come from and how did they start. Kudzu is my nemesis here.

[@BackyardEcology]

There are several species of invasive bush honeysuckle in North America, and most were introduced in the mid to late 1800s, mainly as landscape plants. Some species were also used for erosion control, wind breaks, and even in wildlife plantings - before people knew any better. Kudzu is a tough plant to get rid of! Thankfully it is not too common in my area.

[@midwestplantgeeks8643]

I don't bother to respond to or engage the mitigators. 1- they won't do anything to remedy the problem 2- they are ignorant. If you have to convince someone of the problem past simple explanations time to move on. Don't waste time on them. Going out today to cut down honeysuckle in park areas with 6 or more people. Have been focusing it on for last 3 weeks, before was buckthorn when everything dormant

[@brianredban9393]

Asian bitter sweet by far is the biggest pain in the ass. It's killing so many trees in Connecticut

[@BackyardEcology]

It is a terrible invasive for sure. Don't have much here in central KY, but I have seen a few which is not a good sign.

[@MattDollinger]

I’ve burned, cut, sprayed and mowed 1000s of lbs of this crap every year. PS I loved your deer hunter comment!

[@BackyardEcology]

Glad you liked it!

[@SHANECatLoveActivistHistorian]

i cut and treated hundreds of these bush honey suckles and now most are sprouting again in the spring

[@BackyardEcology]

Time of year and age of the plant can have a big impact on cut stump treatments as can the herbicide used.

[@sarco64]

I always apply 25% glyphosate to the stump immediately after cutting and have very little regrowth.

[@BackyardEcology]

@@sarco64 Treating immediately after cutting has a huge impact on the result.