COMMON INVASIVE PLANTS IN VIRGINIA: IDENTIFICATION, CONTROL, AND NATIVE ALTERNATIVES

COMMON INVASIVE PLANTS IN VIRGINIA: IDENTIFICATION, CONTROL, AND NATIVE ALTERNATIVES
BETH MIZELL, BLUE RIDGE PRISM

Invasive plants are a real problem for Virginia. This presentation will give an overview of why invasive plants are a problem in Virginia (and elsewhere); review the most common invasive plants you might see in your forest, field, or backyard easily identified in the fall; offer control options; and, some native alternatives to those invasive plants that are often used in landscaping.

Elizabeth Mizell is the Program Director for Blue Ridge PRISM, a non profit dedicated to reducing the impacts of invasive species in the northern Blue Ridge Mountain in Virginia. Prior to moving to Virginia in 2016 and starting a small business, Beth was a Land Steward with The Nature Conservancy for 14 years caring for natural areas and restoring rare natural communities. She has extensive experience in natural areas management and restoration, invasive plant species management and control, native plant propagation, and gardening/landscaping with native plants. Beth is a Level 1 Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional and holds a license as a Virginia Commercial Pesticide Applicator.