Description

holographic sticker depicting one hand ripping out invasive black swallow wort by the roots, making room for the other hand to sow native milkweed seeds. 

from the concord MA natural resources department:

Black swallowwort can form extensive patches that crowd out native vegetation, including native milkweed, goldenrod’s, and other field grasses and wildflowers. Monocultures of swallowwort completely change a field’s physical structure. Loss of native plant species reduces biodiversity and can delay or redirect succession, as well as severely limit the value of habitat to wildlife. Monarch butterflies lay eggs on swallow-wort, but have zero percent survival.

Hand removal of plants is possible for light infestations and where native species co-occur with it. This is recommended for plants with stems under 2 inches in diameter. If a plant is particularly hard to pull out, digging around the edges with a shovel helps loosen the plant. This process is easier when the soil is moist. Firmly grasp the plant low and tug gently until the main root loosens from the soil and the entire plant pulls out. Remove the plant with its entire root system or new plants may sprout from root fragments. Black swallowwort can form extensive patches that crowd out native vegetation, including native milkweed, goldenrod’s, and other field grasses and wildflowers. Monocultures of swallowwort completely change a field’s physical structure. Loss of native plant species reduces biodiversity and can delay or redirect succession, as well as severely limit the value of habitat to wildlife. Monarch butterflies lay eggs on swallow-wort, but have zero percent survival.