This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

Honeysuckle Removal Sunday

Two of Town & Country's city commissions, the Green Team and Parks & Trails, are sponsoring a honeysuckle removal workday at Longview Farm Park this Sunday, November 4, from 1-3 pm.  We are seeking volunteers to help with the work.  If you would like to join us, please contact Anne Nixon at 314-434-2128 or nixona@town-and-country.org.  The first 20 to respond will be welcome.  If there is enough interest, we will hold another workday on Saturday, November 17.


We will meet in Longview's parking lot at 1.  Please wear work clothes.  It is not necessary to bring tools, unless you have a favorite.

Why remove honeysuckle?  This is from a Missouri Department of Conservation pamphlet:
Bush honeysuckle leaves appear early in the spring and remain late into fall, giving them a competitive advantage over native plants. They form a thick understory that limits sunlight to native plants inhibiting seedling establishment and forest regeneration. They also compete for soil moisture, nutrients, and may produce a chemical that inhibits native plant growth. All species of honeysuckle also spread from the roots, resulting in the ability to further dominate an area. Bush honeysuckles compete with native plants for pollinators, resulting in fewer seeds set on native species. Unlike native shrubs, the fruits of exotic bush honeysuckles are carbohydrate-rich and do not provide migrating birds with the high-fat content needed for long flights.

In short, it is an invasive exotic; it crowds out native plants and does not support native birds and insects.  Strike a blow for Missouri's flora and fauna -- remove honeysuckle and replace it with something native!

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

More from Town And Country-Manchester