What is the Medina County Invasive Species Buy-Back program?
Medina County Soil & Water Conservation District and Medina County Park District are teaming up to improve watershed health and benefit native wildlife by encouraging homeowners to remove invasive species from their property.
Though we’re highlighting the Callery pear (Pyrus calleryana), any tree or shrub species on the
Ohio Department of Agriculture list will be accepted.
If you have one of these species on your property, this summer you’ll have a chance to get a free native plant in exchange for cutting down/removing the targeted invasive species out of your yard.
Who can participate?
Any Medina County resident may participate in the program as long as they remove a designated invasive plant from their property.
Click here to sign up for email updates for the program.
Why should invasive plants be removed?
Invasive plants are non-native, aggressive plants that can take over entire habitats. To wildlife not all plants are created equal, and unfortunately many non-native plants now found in this area cannot support our native wildlife. Native plants have been found in this region for thousands of years, and as such many wildlife species depend on these “familiar” food sources.
Evolving together over thousands of years, many of our insects, including our pollinators, can only digest a handful of plants native to their range which are called host plants. While some adult insects will visit invasive species’ flowers, Ohio’s native plants will uphold multiple food webs by providing food to multiple life stages of our local wildlife.
Removing an invasive plant and replacing it with a native alternative will feed wildlife, make your yard beautiful, and support healthier waterways.
What to expect
More information on the 2025 program is coming in January.
Click here to sign up for email updates for the program.
1:1 Trade In:
One invasive tree or shrub removed in exchange for one native tree or shrub to plant.
This is a first come first served program:
We accept trade-ins in the order they are received, while supplies last. Species selection.
Accepted species: Though we’re highlighting the Callery Pear, any tree or shrub species on the ODA list will be accepted.
Important Dates
Check back in January 2025 for updates.
Handouts:
Community Achievements
136 Invasive species removed
50+ Callery Pear trees
225 Native trees planted in local watersheds
How this Program began
On January 7th, 2023 it became officially illegal to sell, plant, and cultivate Callery pear trees and their many cultivars in the state of Ohio. But what is the Callery pear, and why is this achievement being celebrated? The Callery pear, also known as Bradford pear, Cleveland pear, and several other names, is a flowering tree native to Asia. These trees were thought to be sterile; and this trait paired with their spring flowers led to them being marketed as the “perfect” landscaping tree. However, due to cross pollination, these trees soon became highly invasive, escaping from their planted locations into fields and other natural areas. Monocultures of Callery pear in natural spaces create food deserts for wildlife, especially insects, by choking out our native trees and shrubs and degrading habitat quality. The time has come to ditch the Callery pear and choose to plant native. Join us in the Medina County Invasive Species Buy-Back Program to help improve wildlife habitat in Medina County!
**PLEASE NOTE**
Residents should NOT remove trees or shrubs from the “tree lawn” which is the space between the public sidewalk and the street/curb. Tree lawns are managed by the municipality and should not be altered.
Medina SWCD and Medina County Park District is not responsible for any injuries obtained from invasive species removal for this program.
This program is brought to you by Medina SWCD & Medina County Park District and sponsored by Rocky River Watershed Council.
