As Halloween approaches, we’re thinking about all things spooky.

First on the list? Invasive species.

Here are just a few scary stats about invasive plants, per the U.S. Forest Service:

Invasive plants are contributing to the decline of native plant species at an alarming rate.

They’re a major cause of decline for 42% of U.S. endangered and threatened plant species, and they’re the primary cause of decline for 18% of all U.S. endangered or threatened plants.

The loss of native plants results in broad-ranging harms that affect us all, including increased soil erosion, decreased water quality, diminished quality of agricultural land, degraded wildlife habitat, and overall loss of biodiversity and ecosystem functions.

Invasive plants threaten pollinators in several ways.

Most notably, they outcompete native species, reducing the food and habitat sources that pollinators have relied on for millenia. This significantly reduces the survival rates of pollinators and wildlife.

Invasive plants diminish opportunities for outdoor recreation.

They crowd forest floors and riverbanks, making it difficult to travel by foot, and they reduce native species available for fishing, foraging, and so on.

These negative impacts aren’t confined to wild spaces. They’re also occurring in human yards and landscapes across the country. Additionally, invasive species can create a cluttered, uninviting landscape that impedes homeowners’ ability to enjoy their outdoor living spaces.

That’s all pretty frightening, but don’t run away just yet!

The good news is that humans can play a big role in mitigating the spread of invasive plants and restoring our native ecosystems.

Here are some of the best things you can do to support healthy ecosystems:

Remove invasive plants from your property.

Some of the most common invasive species in our region include bush honeysuckle, multiflora rose, and wintercreeper. Whenever possible, aim to remove invasive species through a combination of mechanical removal methods and/or organic herbicides to limit any negative ecological effects. If you need help, we offer bush honeysuckle removal services.

Add native plants to your property.

Restoring native habitat is the absolute best thing you can do to support pollinators, wildlife, and ecosystem functions. Even a small pollinator garden can be the difference between a pollinator surviving long enough to continue its life cycle and the loss of that pollinator.

Whether you start small or go big, adding native plants to your outdoor living space makes a world of difference for our ecosystems. You can find Ohio and Kentucky native plants in our organic Nursery, or check out our native landscape design services.

Volunteer with a local organization.

Many environmental nonprofits are working to remove invasive species from public lands and replace them with native plants. Most of these organizations operate with the help of volunteer labor, so consider gifting your time to make an even bigger impact across our ecosystems.

Support organizations that are striving to restore native ecosystems.

Even if you can’t volunteer, you can support ecological restoration in other ways, whether through financial contributions or spreading awareness.

Bottom line? We all have a role to play in restoring our local ecosystems. And when we do our part to remove invasive species and support native plants and pollinators, the world gets a lot less scary.