Unfortunately, landscape waste materials are sometimes disposed of in accessible locations on someone else’s property, either public or private, according to Doria Gordon, University of Florida’s department of botany.
“The – generally illegal – dumping has allowed several species to become established in natural areas,” Gordon said. “Discarded plants have spread into interiors of parks and other conservation areas through seed dispersal and vegetative growth. For example, wax begonia, Pothos, heavenly bamboo, Ardisia, golden bamboo and arrowhead vine are among the species that have moved into wild areas through this mechanism. This spread of non-native species into protected sites is threatening the plant and animal species those sites were purchased to conserve.”
There are several options available to dispose of this material appropriately, depending on the situation and local ordinances, Gordon advised. Living plant tissue can be destroyed on site through burning, composting in bins or putting it in or under heavy plastic, where sunlight can rapidly cause decomposition, she said. Material also can be dumped in designated disposal areas. “Information on composting can be obtained from your county cooperative extension office,” she pointed out.
Timing of maintenance operations also can reduce the potential for plant propagation movement to undesirable sites, Gordon said. For instance, plants can be pruned before fruit is mature or leaf raking can be done before seeds of surrounding plants have dropped. Awareness of how a species is likely to become established is important. “You can gain valuable clues from propagation methods,” she said. “For example, if a species is most likely to be propagated from cuttings, pruned material of that plant may take root without appropriate precautions.”
According to Gordon, the Florida Nursery Growers Association (FNGA) requests its members to carefully dispose of unwanted plant materials, regardless of the source, to ensure that more plants are not given the opportunity to invade into natural areas. “Particular care should be used when disposing of species known to be invasive, especially with those FNGA has recommended for discontinued use,” Gordon warned. “Educating your customers also encourages protection of natural areas.”