Invasive species are everywhere, and once they’ve arrived, they are extremely difficult to remove. In this fascinating talk, APIPP Communications Manager Shaun Kittle will explore why invasive species are so good at spreading and why they are so adept at pushing out native plants and animals. It all comes down to adaptions—special characteristics that make a species well-suited to live in its environment. In the case of invasive species, many of them can live in a range of conditions, reproduce by multiple means, and alter their environment, all of which gives them a huge advantage.

Yes, dealing with invasives is a challenge, but there is hope! Tia Legge, the Agriculture/Horticulture/Natural Resources Educator for Clinton County Cornell Cooperative Extension, will talk about how managing invasive species can be tricky business in the home garden and requires a lot of patience and dedication, but there are some management strategies to reduce their numbers that are a little more low-effort that can at least keep their numbers a touch lower without breaking your back or the bank.