How to recognize invasive/non desirable plants in my pollinator garden

Question: I have a pollinator garden and am trying to weed out invasive/not desirable plants. I am a real amateur…

I have 3 questions:

1)	How to distinguish between black eyed susan, white campion and hoary allysum. I have been using the Nature ID app. I believe that I am sort of getting it right, but (and this is my question) –  I am looking for resources that give more detailed descriptions of these (and other plants. For example, the blacked eyed susan seems to me to have either 1 or 2 stems, while the white campion has sometimes over 5 stems. The leave patterns are also different. I would like to learn how to use leaf classifications. 

2)	I have (via Nature ID) apparently a lot of beggers lice (Hackelia). See attached photo. My problem is that it seems very unlike images I see in the internet. So – as with my first question is there a resource that gives more precise images and descriptions of this plant.

3)	I have some patches of broad leafed enchanter’s nightshade. It seems to be crowding out these parts of my garden. I am inclined to weed it out.

As there courses you could recommend where I could learn how to classify these plants?

Thanks very much for your help.

responder: Maureen Graber  Replied June 02, 2023, 8:17 AM EDT
response: Good Morning Philip,  Thank you for contacting the U of M Extension Service.  It does take some time to recognize and become familiar with your desireable pollinator plants. The fact that you want to seek out the knowledge is a good thing!  I have an excellent website for you to research your plants, good or bad in your MN pollinator garden: https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/ This is a non-profit website that has detailed information about each of the plants you discussed in your question. The website will identify the leaves, and tell you if it is invasive.  In a pollinator garden if one plant seems to be taking over or spreading too quickly, you can limit the spread. You should not allow undesireable plants to go to seed in the fall.   Here is a link to the U of M Extension Yard and Garden website: https://extension.umn.edu/lawns-and-landscapes/flowers-pollinators Another good resource if you cannot find the information anywhere else, is the USDA Plant Database: https://plants.usda.gov/home You can search by common or scientific name. This website includes all plants nationwide.  I do not know of any current classes you could attend. The Minnesota Dept of Natural Resources website has a list of all the invasive plants in MN.  Your Ramsey county Soil and Water Conservation District may have resources for you: https://www.ramseycounty.us/residents/environment/soil-water-conservation The Lawns to Legumes program also has excellent resources and may have classes to assist residents: https://bwsr.state.mn.us/l2l You are on the right track! How exciting!

responder: The Question Asker Replied June 05, 2023, 4:41 PM EDT
response: Maureen, Thanks. I am trying to rid my garden of undesired plants. I am in particular focussing on the attached (there are 2 views). My strategy is to catch them early so I can avoid having the invasive occupying a lot of space which would preclude summer/fall planning of desirable plants. So the plants I am looking at lack flowers and fruits. this makes the advanced search feature not fine grained enough to use. So I feel quite stuck. On the one plant I have in mind - how would you analyze this? And if you know this plant can you please tell me what it is?

responder: Maureen Graber  Replied June 06, 2023, 7:59 AM EDT
response: Good Morning Philip,  I believe the new photos you sent are the same plant you sent a photo of in the original message. It is as you said, beggarslice (Hackelia virginiana).  I use an app on my phone called "Picture this". It will identify plants from a photo. There is also another app called "iNaturalist" which is a free app. You can use your cell phone to take a photo and the app will identify the plant.   If you are not sure, you can try more than one app or search for the suggested name on the internet to double check your information.  I agree you should weed out the undesireable weeds and plant or seed with a desireable one. Eventually your desireable plants will go to seed and expand over these spots where you have undesireable plants. If you are unsure if it is a plant you want, you can always let it grow and observe how it grows. If you decide you don't want it in your garden you can always pull it out.  Good Luck!

responder: The Question Asker Replied June 08, 2023, 1:31 PM EDT
response: Maureen, Thanks for your excellent advice. I got the app and it confirms the plant in questions is beggarslice. I will take it all out today. A further question. I have junegrass starting to dominate the front of my garden.  See picture. So I would like to take it out. Is there a time and method to do this? 1) I am inclined to do this before the seeds drop - like tomorrow. 2) as it spreads by roots I need to dig it all out. 3) Given that it tends to dominate, I should take it all out in the front of my garden and consider planting it in other areas. Does this make sense? Thanks for your help. Phil     D

responder: The Question Asker Replied June 08, 2023, 1:33 PM EDT
response: Here is the picture.

responder: Maureen Graber  Replied June 09, 2023, 8:15 AM EDT
response: Good Morning Philip,  Based on your photo, I am not sure what variety of grass this is. If you want to remove the grass, surely mow it or cut it down before it goes to seed.  If you are promoting pollinators, many pollinators also use the tall grasses for habitat.  Yes, you could dig it all out. You could also use a herbicide to remove it.  Your choice on if you want to plant it in other areas of your yard.  Good Luck!

responder: The Question Asker Replied June 09, 2023, 12:06 PM EDT
response: Maureen, Thanks for your quick reply. The grass in question is Junegrass (koeleria macrantha). Are there some grasses you could recommend for partly shady dry soil that is super pollinator friendly? Thanks. Phil

responder: Maureen Graber  Replied June 10, 2023, 8:34 AM EDT
response: Good Morning, again, Philip,  Here is a link to June grass from the MN Wildflowers website: https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/grass-sedge-rush/junegrass Here is a link from the U fo M Extension Yard and Garden website which lists grasses that would be good for pollinators: https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/planting-and-maintaining-prairie-garden#common-prairie-plants-1644213 Good Luck!

responder: The Question Asker Replied July 15, 2023, 12:19 PM EDT
response: MaureenI am following up on our emails from early June. Since then my garden has been going great and I believe that I have eradicated all invasives. I have a dull followup question. I somehow learned from you or from one of your references a spreadsheet that identified all invasive plants. I cut this down to only "terrestrial". I am now working on the shoreline of our lake cabin and so need aquatic invasives. Could you if possible direct me to the spreadsheet that included all invasives?Sorry for the bother.Phil  Sent with Proton Mail secure email.    ------- Original Message ------- On Tuesday, June 6th, 2023 at 6:59 AM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:

responder: The Question Asker Replied July 15, 2023, 12:32 PM EDT
response: Sorry - here is attached the redacted spreadsheet.  Sent with Proton Mail secure email.    ------- Original Message ------- On Saturday, July 15th, 2023 at 11:13 AM, philipjemielita <<personal data hidden>> wrote: MaureenI am following up on our emails from early June. Since then my garden has been going great and I believe that I have eradicated all invasives. I have a dull followup question. I somehow learned from you or from one of your references a spreadsheet that identified all invasive plants. I cut this down to only "terrestrial". I am now working on the shoreline of our lake cabin and so need aquatic invasives. Could you if possible direct me to the spreadsheet that included all invasives?Sorry for the bother.Phil  Sent with Proton Mail secure email.    ------- Original Message ------- On Tuesday, June 6th, 2023 at 6:59 AM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:

responder: The Question Asker Replied July 15, 2023, 5:29 PM EDT
response: Maureen,  Just to clarity, the plant in question for my shoreline garden is identified as "jewelweed" and in the "Picturethis" program it is indentified as invasive, while it is not identified as invasive in the excel sheet list of invasives.  One other question related to my shoreline garden is that parts of it are sand. Do you have any thoughts or resources on how to get plants started in such areas? Please see a photo attached. You will see a band of sand in between our lawn (sadly very desiccated) and a band of natural growth abut our shoreline).    Thanks VERY much for your help.  Phil

responder: Maureen Graber  Replied July 16, 2023, 8:54 AM EDT
response: Good Morning Phil,  I am happy to hear you had good results with your garden.  There are many resources for your shoreline on the MN Department of Natural Resources website: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/search?terms=invasive+plants. This site lists all the different invasive plants.  Jewelweed grows along the shoreline and is a good shoreline plant. It is only invasive if you let it take over the area.  Here is another link from the DNR about restoring your shoreline: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/rys/index.html There are many resources for shorelines through this link.  Good Luck!

responder: The Question Asker Replied July 16, 2023, 10:46 AM EDT
response: Maureen,Thanks - and in particular clarifying the jewelweed.The info on shorelines is very good.Phil  Sent with Proton Mail secure email.    ------- Original Message ------- On Sunday, July 16th, 2023 at 7:54 AM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:

responder: Maureen Graber  Replied July 17, 2023, 7:25 AM EDT
response: You are welcome

responder: The Question Asker Replied November 02, 2023, 1:17 PM EDT
response: I have a question on lawn edging. I have plastic edging right now. What is happening is that the lawn grass is jumping over the edging into my pollinator garden. Do you have any thoughts on edging that provides a better barrier that is not crazy expensive?Thanks.  Sent with Proton Mail secure email.    ------- Original Message ------- On Monday, July 17th, 2023 at 6:25 AM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:

responder: Maureen Graber  Replied November 03, 2023, 10:28 AM EDT
response: Good Morning Philip,  I am not sure when you posted this question. There has been a glitch in our system and I did not get this question until today.  Plastic edging that sticks up an inch or two above the vegetation, and is deep in the soil about 4 to 6 inches should stop the lawn grass. You might consider no edging and let your native plants bleed into your lawn?  Keep Warm!