Baltimore, Baltimore County Invasive Plant Removal

Blue Water Baltimore

Blue Water Baltimore is dedicated to restoring the quality of Baltimore’s rivers, streams and harbor to foster a healthy environment, a strong economy, and thriving communities. There are lots of way to lend a hand and take action. Interested volunteers are encouraged to sign up for a volunteer event online. Questions may be directed to Katie Dix, our Volunteer Coordinator, at volunteer[@]bluewaterbaltimore.org or 410-254-1577 ext 100. Our calendar is always changing! For a full list of our events, please visit our online calendar at www.bluewaterbaltimore.org/events.

Baltimore Weed Warriors – Defending Our Native Forests

Invasive Plant Control for Watershed Conservation

Why control invasive plants?

Healthy urban forests are critical to our waterways and our community.  Unfortunately, the introduction of non-native plants has caused our native forests to decline significantly.  These forests are under a constant, green threat from a suite of non-native invasive plants that are capable of out-competing even the largest mature canopy trees.  Invasive vines such as English Ivy (Hedera helix) and Porcelainberry (Ampelopsis brevipedunculata) cover thousands of mature trees, limiting sun exposure for photosynthesis, competing for access to soil nutrients and water, and literally crushing tree limbs with the weight of tons of vine growth. Invasive plants grow on private property as well as public lands, despoiling aesthetics and impacting tree health, which can result in costly removal of dead and damaged trees.

Non-native invasive trees and shrubs such as Tree-of-Heaven (Ailanthus altissima) and Multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora) out-compete native plants in disturbed sites and can even displace established native canopy and understory cover over time.  These non-native invasive woody perennials provide few or no services to native fauna.

Baltimore Green Space

Villainous Vine Removal

  • When: Sunday, March 31st, 2019, 12:00-2:00pm.
  • Where: 5921 Fairwood Ave.
  • Description: This is a vine removal day for Fairwood Forest! Help rid the forest of invasive plants! Forest Steward Liz Sterner leads the day! Wear closed-toe shoes and long pants. Tools will be provided.
  • Questions: Call 443-608-0353

Baltimore GROW Centers at HEPP

  • When: Saturday, April 27th, 2019, 9:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m.
  • Where: HEPP Park, 2399 Pinewood Ave, 21214
  • Description: Come over to HEPP and receive free mulch and free trees. Buy recycling bins and plant plugs. There will be a clean up, invasive species removal, and activities for kids! Bring a bucket to take home mulch and other garden materials. RSVP to: clare.maffei@gmail.com.
  • Questions: Call 443-608-0353

Tree Baltimore: Weed Warriors

Weed Warriors is a city-wide program centered on keeping our forests healthy through the removal of invasive species by environmental stewards. Regular group events are held year round where volunteers can join in the fun of restoring a forested area within a park.

Certified Weed Warriors are citizens permitted to work in parks and remove invasive vegetation without the supervision of park employees. To become certified, interested persons must complete a series of classes that teach about invasive species and must participate in one group weed removal event. The class curriculum includes invasive species identification, their effects on the environment, and removal methods. After completing requirements, participants become Certified Weed Warriors and receive their official card.

Weed Warriors can bask in the pride of making a positive difference in the ecology of our parks and our city!!

Become a Weed Warrior, "NO VINE LEFT BEHIND!!”

For more information on the Weed Warriors program, see http://treebaltimore.org/weed-warriors/.

The Weed Warriors program strives to keep forests healthy by removing invasive species throughout the city. Many volunteer group events have been held over the past years.

Weed Warriors certification is a new 3 class series that allows citizens to become authorized to perform invasive plant removal on city park property. Adopt-an-Acre is currently being tested in Gwynns Falls Leakin park, allowing citizens to care for a forested acre with light-to-moderate invasive plant presence. Finally, the invasive plant council is the beginning of bringing together all organizations that perform invasive plant removal throughout the city, in order to coordinate efforts and share expertise and resources.

Cromwell Valley Park

Weed Warriors of the Habitat Restoration Team

We will remove invasive plants from the park and, in warmer weather, also plant natives and maintain restored habitat – great opportunities for high school students for community service and volunteers who like to work outdoors.

Clothing: Long pants protect your legs!  Please also wear toe-closed shoes, bring sunscreen, a hat, and insect repellent if desired – tools provided.  Please bring a water bottle with you.

Contact: If interested, please RSVP to Laurie Taylor-Mitchell, Ltmitchell4[@]comcast.net

Where: We meet at the back of the Sherwood House, 2002 Cromwell Bridge Rd, Baltimore, MD 21234; from I-695 and Loch Raven High School, about ½ mile past the school, take the first entrance to the Sherwood Farm on the left and follow the signs to the parking lot.

Giveaways:
One-time volunteers welcome, but if you come to help:
3 times: Cromwell Valley Park Habitat Restoration Hat
5 times: beautiful handbook on Native Plants for Wildlife Habitat and Conservation Landscaping, from the Chesapeake Bay Watershed

Note: Children under 13 years of age must be accompanied by an adult.  Should you require special accommodations (i.e., language interpreter, large print, etc.) please give as much notice as possible by calling the Park Office, or the Therapeutic office at 410-887-5370.

Patapsco Heritage Greenway

At the heart of the Patapsco River Valley is a network of protected lands along the Patapsco River representative of Maryland’s Piedmont forest and industrial heritage. The Valley’s natural beauty and history combine to provide a unique opportunity for visitors to appreciate and enjoy Maryland’s most dramatic river valley.

The Patapsco Heritage Greenway rallies thousands of volunteers each year to clean up trash, remove invasive species, and plant trees in support of its mission to preserve and protect the natural resources of the valley.

Click here to see all PHG events. Invasive removal outings include the following:

Weed Warriors at Lake Roland

Be a weed warrior volunteer at Lake Roland! Our gardens and grounds need your help to keep Lake Roland beautiful. Bring gloves, boots, and a water bottle and lend a hand every second Saturday of the month from 9:00-10:00am, for ages 13 to adult.  Participants under 18 years old must have a parent or guardian present.

Address: 1000 Lakeside Dr., Baltimore, MD  21210