The Hamilton County Invasives Partnership (HIP) and Hamilton County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) want to help you replace your invasive landscape vegetation with native species that support a diverse, healthy environment.
Via a trade-in program, local property owners can show proof of removal of an invasive species on their Hamilton County property and receive up to three, three-gallon native trees or shrubs for free.
Over 80 percent of invasive species growing in Indiana are thought to have come from the landscape trade. Many popular landscape trees and shrubs such as callery pear species and burning bush easily escape landscape cultivation and take over nearby rights-of-way, roadsides, and natural areas. These infestations cause erosion, animal habitat degradation, and loss of important native plant species.
While many property owners may not see their specimen spreading, birds, wind, water, and other wildlife can spread invasive seeds from your yard to nearby parks and natural areas.
Landscape plantings of callery pear species, burning bush, Japanese barberry, and Norway Maple are the preferred species for removal, but you can apply when removing other invasive species listed on the Official Indiana Invasive Species Council Invasive Plant List.
Trades are limited to one per address and applications are due by Sept. 4. Learn more and apply at hcinvasives.org.