Recently, the City of Georgetown’s Parks and Recreation Department reclaimed Chandler Park from a sea of invasive wax leaf ligustrums.  The park had become overrun with ligustrums that had out competed all the native understory trees and had started to give the 40 foot tall cedar elms a run for their money.  Before removing the ligustrums a stranger to Georgetown would have no idea the San Gabriel River was flowing along Spring Valley Road in Chandler Park.  Now citizens and visitors alike can enjoy the view of the river.  None of the ligustrums were planted by humans in Chandler Park the hostile take over was most likely done by birds, and flood waters carrying ligustrum seeds.

Wax leaf ligustrum (Ligustrum japonicum) is an evergreen shrub to small tree that can grow to about 25 feet tall.  It has thick glossy leafs that are opposite on the stem.  Ligustrums flower in the spring through the summer and produce blue berries in late summer through fall.  Unfortunately, ligustrums are commonly used in landscapes for screening rather than native non invasive alternatives.  Birds feed on the purple berries then spread this invasive plant everywhere they leave droppings.

Ligustrums tend to get so thick that nothing will grow underneath them.  Choking out all the grass and native understory in a yard is one thing, but doing this along a river prone to flooding is much worse.  Top soil has no defense when flood waters rise under ligustrums causing erosion.

The U. S. Forest Service estimates that nationwide invasive plants cover an area larger than the entire Northeast, from Pennsylvania to Maine.  Each year, invasives overtake an area larger then the state of Delaware.

The best way to control ligustrums is to pull them up by hand when they are young.

When they are large they will need to be cut down with a hand saw or chainsaw and the stump should be treated immediately afterward with a systemic herbicide.  Waiting a few hours to treat a stump can give the shrub / tree a chance to seal off the cut thus making the herbicide useless.  It will only be a matter of time before another ligustrum sprouts up if herbicide is not used.

It is frustrating to see plants like ligustrum for sale in nurseries.  Next time you are looking for an evergreen shrub try and remember the unintended consequences of such a plant.  Native plants cost less by using less water; they are adapted to this region and will require fewer pesticides and less fertilizer.  Consider using some of these evergreen natives for screening in your yard instead: Texas mountain laurel, yaupon holly, evergreen sumac or Texas Sage.

To learn more about Texas invasive species go to www.texasinvasives.org

We’re looking for volunteers to help plant trees in Old Town Park on Saturday, November 7 at 9:00 a.m. Old Town Park is located at 1262 S. Austin Avenue in Georgetown. We will be planting 51 trees,  30 ornamental trees and 21 shade trees.  The species are: yaupon holly, Texas mountain laurel, flameleaf sumac, Mexican plum, bur oak, Monterey oak, lacebark elm, and chinkapin oak.

Wear your old shoes, bring your gloves and a shovel! The holes will be pre-dug so don’t let that keep you at home!

Please help us get a head count of how many people in your group will be attending by emailing hbrewer@georgetowntx.org to RSVP.

For more information, please contact Heather Brewer, Urban Forester, at (512) 930-6113.