Fox Chapel Borough, April 2023
Controlled Plant and Noxious Weed Program Information from the PA Dept of Agriculture
and
Invasive Species Information from the Dept of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCED)
Fox Chapel Garden Club, November 2018
It has recently come to the attention of the Fox Chapel Garden Club via the Department of Agriculture and Pennsylvania State Extension that two invasives are present in our local gardens: Asian jumping worms and Japanese stiltgrass.
In order to curb the spread of these two very environmentally destructive invasives, the FCGC has taken the position that any club sponsored plant sharing and/or sales must adopt the following procedure:
1. Any plant dug from a member’s yard must have the soil removed from the plant’s roots, and the roots must be rinsed in water.
2. All soil and debris in recycled pots must be removed, pots should be washed, and then dipped in a fragrance-free bleach (sodium hypochlorite) solution with a 9:1 ratio of water to disinfectant.
3. Using a purchased soilless potting mix, repot the plant in a sterilized pot (see step 2 above).
Since the inception of the event, our club has enthusiastically participated in Gardenfest, sponsored by the Lauri Ann West Community Center. This participation involves the harvesting of perennial plants from our members’ gardens, transporting the plants to a holding garden, watering the harvested plants before the event, transporting the plants to the event location, and finally educating the public during the sales of our perennials.
Since the above digging and potting procedure has been adopted, it is our position that we will continue to participate in the event, but will selectively choose the species and number of plants for Gardenfest 2019. The increase in time to properly prepare our plants according to the Department of Agriculture recommendations will not allow us to offer the large quantity of plants that we usually dig and sell at Gardenfest.
https://extension.psu.edu/look-out-for-jumping-earthworms
http://ccetompkins.org/resources/jumping-worm-fact-sheet
https://www.theimpatientgardener.com/the-invasive-species-that-has-me/
https://extension.psu.edu/poison-hemlock-facts-about-this-early-season-weed
https://extension.psu.edu/spotted-lanternfly-management-resources
https://extension.psu.edu/japanese-stiltgrass-an-increasingly-common-occurrence-in-pennsylvania