Be PlantWise

About Guidelines

Gardening…what a satisfying pastime and a smart way to beautify your home! But do a little homework first, and have a care before you buy those plants and spread those seeds. Some plants are bad for the environment, choking out native species and running wild through the neighborhood. Some plants that look lovely in your garden might be crafty invaders that will make their way into natural areas and cause harm.

In November 2005, fourteen experts representing a variety of constituencies gathered at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin, Texas to develop a public education program focused on controlling the spread of invasive plants across the urban-wildland interface. The participants obtained consensus on a set of best management practices for invasive plants that were appropriate for the lay public and agreed on 10 recommended guidelines to keep your yard and neighboring wildlands invasive plant-free.