As sunlight hours increase, thoughts turn to gardening. But aside from pruning and tidying, gardening is fairly limited. This is a good time, however, to remove undesirable plants in our gardens and road allowances.

Some plants in our gardens shouldn’t be there and this is even truer of roadsides, fields and forests. Unfortunately, the latter is a consequence of unthinking use or lack of control over plants that could be called the monsters let loose in the yard. I’m writing here of noxious weeds and invasives. A good example is the English ivy (Hedera helix) that increases the weight and wind load of trees to such a degree that affected trees are brought down in storms. In fact, a recent power outage in our neighborhood was caused by an ivy-laden heritage apple tree that could no longer withstand high winds. Ivy covered walls might look dignified, but ivy covered trees are a danger to property and people. Weeds are plants we don’t like, at least not in our gardens. But horsetail (Equisetum), dandelion (Taraxacum) and buttercup (Ranunculus) aren’t on government blacklists. While noxious weeds are also plants in the wrong place, what distinguishes them from dandelions is that they endanger people, property, agriculture or native species. In Point Roberts, the noxious weeds we encounter are a mostly non-native plant whose spread threatens native habitats and reduces genetic diversity in local ecologies. Aside from ivy, the big culprits are scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius), evergreen blackberry (Rubus laciniatus) and yellow archangel (Lamium galeobdolon). All are garden escapees. But because of a lack of natural controls in our area, they spread rampantly. Most infestations require a concerted removal or containment effort the first year, followed by occasional patrols to make sure the problem doesn’t recur.

English Ivy is easy to identify and control. This lush creeper has glossy evergreen leaves and sends out sturdy ground- and tree-hugging stems. To control it on trees, use pruners or loppers to cut completely through climbing stems at waist to shoulder height. Pull off the climbing stems to the best of your ability. Ground-hugging stems are removed by simply pulling, and large mats can be rolled up with the help of willing friends. Pulled plants can be burned, left in black plastic bags until they rot, or treated as garbage rather than compost.

Scotch broom is an attractive feathery semi-evergreen shrub that speckles our roadsides and Lily Point hiking trails with yellow flowers in very early spring. Broom not only outcompetes native plants, but also poses a fire hazard due to its volatile oils. Seedlings and young plants are easily removed by hand-pulling, but mature plants need a specialized weed wrencher to remove the strong roots. It is critical to collect all seeds and dispose of them as rubbish rather than compost. The plant itself can be composted, but do not attempt to burn it.

I’ve personally found evergreen blackberry the most difficult to remove. It must be removed because containment does not stop birds from spreading its seeds. The first challenge is identification because it takes an experienced eye to distinguish this plant from native Rubus (e.g., salmonberry, thimbleberry, trailing blackberry) in a thicket. However, only the noxious weed has long arching green or reddish canes that are angular in cross-section, bear leaves through the winter and have truly nasty thorns. Make sure you protect yourself from those thorns before removing even a seedling unless you want to head directly for your first aid kit. Dig out the roots with a pry bar if necessary or they will re-sprout. There are no special disposal needs, but try not to leave blackberry branches lying on the ground for too long or they will root.

Lamium is a pretty ornamental ground cover with crinkly silver-lined leaves. Unfortunately, it crowds out native ground covers. Pull Lamium while the ground is damp, because its removal involves getting as much root as possible. Lamium is best composted in a black plastic bag until thoroughly rotted, because roots and stems easily regenerate.

Removal of these and other noxious weeds is hard work but can be extremely satisfying. You may note a certain lack of winter evergreen interest until evergreen natives have a chance to reassert themselves. However, a number of publications describe non-invasive plants that can be used in place of noxious weeds for those who want more instant results.

Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants and WSU’s Grow Your Own Native Landscape, available from the library, are helpful. Web resources for our area are the Washington State and Whatcom County Noxious Weed Control Boards at www.nwcb.wa.gov/education/education.htm,

www.co.whatcom.wa.us/publicworks/weeds/, respectively, and

Metro Vancouver Parks Department (www.gvipc.ca/community.php). If you prefer a personal consultation, contact Laurel Baldwin of the Whatcom County Noxious Weed Control Board at 360/715-7470 or LBaldwin@co.whatcom.wa.us.

The Point Roberts Garden Club meets the first Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. in the community center. Meetings are open to all and usually begin with an education program followed by a show & share social.

 Rhiannon Allen, secretary of the Point Roberts Garden Club and director of the 2010 Point Roberts Garden Tour, has successfully removed all four of the above-mentioned bullies from her property.