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Identifying Variety of Plants in Yard #876013

Asked July 05, 2024, 2:30 PM EDT

Hi, I live on 1/3 of an acre and have a wide variety of plants growing across my yard. I don't want to just mow over all of them and would like to preserve the ones worth keeping. Despite trying identification apps I've had a hard time identifying all of them. There's likely a dozen or so various species of plants in my yard and I'd love to document them all and know which ones are problems that need to be removed. I understand if this is too small an issue to look into but I feel this could be a great exercise for some of your students. Thanks!

Franklin County Ohio

Expert Response

Dear Patrick, 
Unfortunately, I do not know the location of your yard, however, if you are in NE Ohio, there is a new resource available through the Audubon Society called Nature in my Backyard. Here's more information:

"Welcome to the Audubon Society of Greater Cleveland’s and the Shaker Lakes Garden Club’s Nature in my Backyard program. This is an education and certification program designed to help you understand the most essential steps to building biodiversity in your backyard.

With your enrollment you will join a network of households in NE Ohio committed to stewarding birds, pollinators and wildlife in our own backyards, front yards, and on our patios.

Certification Program

Now that you know about our program, are you inspired but overwhelmed?

If you wish, we will come to your home and identify invasive plants that need to be removed. We will suggest native plants that will enhance your yard."

https://clevelandaudubon.org/certification-progam/

This program - or some version of it - may or may not be available in your area.  

Otherwise, there are plant identification apps that can be helpful. A free app is iNaturalist. https://www.inaturalist.org/

Here is another resource for identifying invasive plants: 

Ohio Invasive Plant council: 
https://www.oipc.info/background-information.html


Carolyn H. If you would like to learn more, please check out these resources. Replied July 05, 2024, 5:26 PM EDT

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