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 trees or shrubs 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.
Medina County residents and businesses can participate in the program as long as they remove a designated invasive tree or shrub from their property.
Please note that we have limited number of trees for businesses; please call Kellie at 330-722-9321 to confirm there are still trees left for your business to participate.
Click here to sign up for email updates for the program.
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.
This is a first come first served program:
We accept trade-ins in the order they are received, while supplies last.
Program will begin in June. Now is a great time to flag your invasive trees and shrubs to prepare for removal when the program begins. For your submission be accepted, your submission photo needs to include the 2026 “Stop the Spread” sign which will become available June 1st.
Replacement species list coming soon!
Submission guidelines will become available June 1st
Invasive trees and shrubs must be removed and submitted to program between June 1st – August 22nd
Up to 3 Invasive trade in per household:
One invasive tree or shrub removed in exchange for one native tree or shrub to plant. Due to limited availability, we will provide one trade in. If there are any extra native plants left by pick-up day, participants who cut down multiple invasive plants may be offered additional replacement species.
Accepted species: Though we’re highlighting the Callery Pear, any tree or shrub species on the ODA list will be accepted.
Program will begin June 1st. To be notified when program opens and to be sent updates and guidelines for submission, sign up for notifications here.
June 1st – Buy-Back Program Submissions Open
June 7th – Invasive Species Management Workshop at Oenslager Nature Center 2pm-4pm
June 9th – Community Invasive Species Removal Day, Location coming soon, 10am-12pm
June 24th – Invasive Species Management at Home at OSU Extension, 6pm-7pm
August 22nd – Last day to submit removed invasive plants for program
September 5th – Pick-up replacement trees and shrubs at Native Plant Festival at Oenslager Nature Center
240+ Invasive species removed
75+ Callery Pear trees
340 Native trees planted in local watersheds
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.
