Shame on The Herald. There was no need to pit the nursery industry against the Washington Native Plant Society (“The good, the bad, and the ivy,” Home &Gardne, Jan. 3). The NPS is doing a community service by removing ivy from public parks. Removing ivy removes competition and allows native species to thrive. I know controversy sells papers, but this was irresponsible journalism. Ivy is not “an urban problem,” as stated by one person in the story. Research from the University of Washington has shown that some cultivars of English ivy has escaped cultivation and turned up in national forest lands and other non-urbanized public and private properties. There is one very important issue the article missed – how ivy spreads and how responsible gardeners and nursery owners can minimize the threats to our native species.
1. Don’t grow the ivy cultivars (or any plant) that has proven itself as an invasive species. 2. If you choose to grow any ivy, don’t let it climb, and most importantly, don’t let it flower.
Ivy becomes “adult” when it grows upward (climbs trees, fences and walls). Once adult, it flowers and fruits form. Birds eat the fruit, birds fly, and birds poop. That is how it spreads to natural areas. Ivy has no place in natural areas – it chokes out native plants and disrupts the ecology. I’m not here to tell you what to do in your yard, but please be informed and responsible in the choices you make as a nursery grower, landscaper, and home gardener. The Herald missed the big point. Invasive species and earth-friendly responsible gardening could use a lot more attention – not throwing gasoline on fires that you started.
Everett
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