Invasive plants spread fast, outcompete native species and are notoriously hard to get rid of once established. Some, like Asiatic bittersweet, wrap around trees and can girdle or topple them. Others, like Japanese knotweed, spread through underground roots and resprout after cutting.
Tree Medics founder Erik Hanson has spent years watching invasive species reshape Maine’s landscapes, and helping native plants and trees reclaim their territory is central to what we do.
Invasive plants we manage
Shrubs and trees
Japanese barberryBerberis thunbergii
Burning bushEuonymus alatus
Autumn oliveElaeagnus umbellata
Glossy buckthornFrangula alnus
Common buckthornRhamnus cathartica
Multiflora roseRosa multiflora
Tree of heavenAilanthus altissima
Bush honeysucklesLonicera species
Vines and groundcovers
Asiatic bittersweetCelastrus orbiculatus
Japanese knotweedFallopia japonica
Japanese honeysuckleLonicera japonica
Mile-a-minute vinePersicaria perfoliata
Porcelain berryAmpelopsis brevipedunculata
Chinese silver lace vineFallopia baldschuanica
Our approach
- Identify and mapWe confirm which species are present and how far they have spread.
- Build a planEach species needs a different method and timing to control it effectively.
- Targeted treatmentWe treat invasives while protecting the native plants and trees around them.
- Follow upMost invasives take multiple seasons to control, so we come back to finish the job.
Why one-time cutting rarely works
Many invasives resprout aggressively from roots or stumps after cutting. Lasting control usually takes a planned, multi-season program.
