Forest Health

Eurasian bush honeysuckles are non-native species that can out-compete many native plant species. They are found throughout Maryland and the mid-Atlantic states, where these multi-stemmed plants spread rapidly in disturbed areas, forming dense thickets that can reach ten to fifteen feet in height.

English ivy can be found in many areas throughout Maryland and the nation. You can see it in both woodlands and urban areas alike. This climbing vine is a highly aggressive invader that threatens all levels of forested and open area.

Golden bamboo, also known as fishpole bamboo or running bamboo, is an invasive plant that was introduced to North America over a century ago and is still offered for sale as a fast-growing ornamental plant.

The Norway Maple is so conspicuous throughout the United States that it is often easy to forget that it is an introduced species that can adversely affect the environment.

Wavyleaf basketgrass was first identified in the United States in Baltimore County, MD in 1996. It is less well-known than other invasives, but it is spreading rapidly in Maryland and Virginia.

Japanese stiltgrass has successful invasive has colonized a variety of habitats throughout the eastern half of the United States, including every county in Maryland, and reaching as far west as Texas.

The Woodland Health Assessment consists of a checklist and a series of management actions. Property owners can use them to identify potential areas for management, based on their particular objectives.

As summer yields to fall, deciduous trees throughout the mid-Atlantic states lose their leaves in an often-spectacular display of color. However, not all hardwood trees participate in this pageantry, and decide to hang onto their leaves until spring. This is called "marcescence." Why it occurs is another question.

As I am about to retire after 32 years as a University of Maryland extension forester, I want to take this opportunity to share some thoughts with you, the readers of Branching Out, and others who have benefited from the Woodland Stewardship Education program.

Read the "Woodland Wildlife Spotlight," the "Invasives in Your Woodland," the MD-DE Logger of the Year, and take the Brain Tickler challenge.