Newtown Knotweed Initiative

09/02/2026

Have you seen this spiny invader along Connecticut forest edges or hiking trails? Or perhaps on your property?

Originally imported as an ornamental, Japanese Angelica Tree is rapidly taking over native habitats across the state. It out-competes local flora, blocks sunlight for young native saplings, and forms dense, single-species thickets. This tree features densely packed spines on both bark and stem. Summer white flowers are followed by dark purple berries.

Do not simply cut this tree down. Cutting will encourage new saplings to sprout and spread. Ask a landscaper to paint stumps with a systemic herbicide designed for woody plants with a Buckthorn Blaster. Protect Connecticut woodlands by sharing this post.

09/01/2026

Giving Our Native Trees Room to Breathe!

Newtown Knotweed Initiative volunteers Christine St. Georges, Ellen Kutner, and Jeff Kutner were out at NFA's Holcombe Hill Nature Preserve yesterday taking targeted action to protect native foliage.

The team tackled invasive Asiatic bittersweet that was wrapping around and choking a beautiful native red maple. Using a precise clip-and-paint method, they cut back the heavy vines and treated the stems to stop regrowth directly at the source—saving the tree canopy and protecting surrounding biodiversity.

The team observed that during their absence from the site this summer, porcelain berry vine moved in to create a veil that covered the tree and surrounding shrubs. In addition, the team stopped as they worked to swat and squish many spotted lantern flies that use porcelain berry as a host.

Every type of invasive vine removed gives our native trees another chance to thrive. Huge thanks to the NFA, Christine, Ellen, and Jeff for their dedicated stewardship!

Have invasive vines taken over trees in your yard? Drop a comment below or send us a message to learn effective, targeted removal strategies!

08/30/2026

Judicious, targeted, responsible use of herbicides can be a successful part of invasive plant management, and in fact, it's essential to wrestle control of some of the worst offenders like Japanese knotweed and tree of heaven.

08/19/2026

Lovely goldenrod (Solidago) is in bloom now. Delivering brilliant color in late summer and early fall, goldenrod is an ecological powerhouse, serving as a crucial, high-sugar nectar and pollen source for native bees, honeybees, butterflies and beneficial insects.

Goldenrod is a larval host plant for over 100 species of butterflies and moths, and its seeds feed songbirds long after the blooms fade.

Contrary to popular belief, goldenrod does not cause hay fever. "People often blame goldenrod for hay fever because it blooms at the exact same time as the real culprit, ragweed. It’s an easy mistake since goldenrod's bright yellow flowers are highly visible in bloom while allergy-causing ragweed flowers are inconspicuous."

We know that plants must be pollinated in order to reproduce. However, the method of pollen distribution varies depending on the plant. Each spring, we get a good idea of one method of pollen transfer...

08/11/2026

Spotted lantern fly-in-a-bottle trick. Any old beverage bottle will do, or in a pinch, a glass jar like this one.

08/11/2026

Invasive vines can be difficult to eradicate using conventional cut-stem herbicide treatment. That's because clinging vines like English ivy, winter creeper and Asian wisteria (and yes, while it is native, poison ivy) develop what are known as "adventitious roots" along their stems. They use these specialized rootlets like tiny suction cups to fuse themselves snugly to rough surfaces like tree bark, stone or masonry, and to absorb added moisture.

If you mistake adventitious roots for the primary root system and attempt to do a cut stem treatment at that juncture, your efforts will fail because adventitious roots don't transport herbicide backward into the underground root system. And if you then leave the main root system untouched, it will respond to your cut immediately by using its energy reserves to send up dozens of new, fast-growing shoots.

You must trace the climbing vines down to where the thick, woody main trunk enters the soil. Then use loppers or a hand pruner to cut the main trunk about 2-6" above the soil line. Then, within 5 minutes of your cut, paint a systemic herbicide containing triclopyr or glyphosate directly onto the freshly cut stump. (Always follow label instructions and wear protective clothing.)

If you are concerned about pollinators landing on the treated surface, you can place a small, inexpensive mesh bag with drawstring over the treated stump and tie it closed, ensuring no insect can land on it, removing it later at your convenience. (Available in bulk at major online retailers.)

Sometimes, the adventitious roots of a vine that touches the ground turn into standard underground roots in a process known as natural layering. If the vine has layered itself, it essentially creates a clone, so in this type of scenario, you have to treat it as two separate plants. Find and treat the original primary root system and then trace the vine to any secondary points where it has taken deep root in the soil and treat those cut stems as well.

How to tell the difference? Adventitious roots can usually be pulled without digging and are fully visible on the climbing stem or when clinging to a surface. Layered roots, on the other hand, are firmly anchored deep underground.

While in theory you can dig out layered roots, it's very hard to remove every single root fragment; a tiny root piece left behind will quickly sprout into an entirely new vine.

08/08/2026

Look closely at the leaves of this branch.

The edges are finally serrated, unlike tree of heaven, which are completely smooth except for a distinct bump or notch where the leaf attaches to the stem.

This is black walnut.

07/27/2026

Two extremely destructive invasive plants should be addressed before fall. Treatment of Japanese Knotweed can only be effectively when done within a specific window of time - after flowering and ending two weeks before a hard frost to specifically target its roots.
Tree of Heaven can be treated now - mid July until mid-October. Cutting is not recommended since it encourages root suckering. https://extension.psu.edu/treeofheaven We recommend hiring a licensed professional, knowledgeable in treating these challenging invasive plants.

06/09/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/1BJVgyssPC/?mibextid=wwXIfr

The Newtown Conservation Commission is looking for folks that would like to be part of a type of Task Force / committee to bring awareness to our community regarding education of rodenticides.
We’re not sure what this looks like yet, but would like to work with like minded people and brainstorm ideas. Please comment or send me a dm.

06/09/2026

If you sprayed last year, some of this years plants may be stunted. These plants should be treated the same as new plants, wait for the window!