New Albany Encourages Removal of Invasive Species

The City of New Albany is enhancing its Invasive Species Trade-In Program with the Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District by offering an even bigger incentive to participate. Residents of the City of New Albany can now receive up to $500 for removing an invasive tree/shrub and replacing it with a new native tree/shrub!

The program was created in cooperation with our Sustainability Advisory Board to reduce the number of invasive plants in our communities and encouraging replacement with native plants. This is a separate program offering from Community Backyards (meaning you can do BOTH). This incentive is limited to one per household per year. You must live in the City of New Albany (tax district 222) according to the Franklin County Auditor’s site in order to qualify.

Eligible Plants for Invasive Species Trade-In Program

These 5 plants are the most problematic invasive plants in New Albany that we want removed:

• Callery Pear (Pyrus calleryana)
• Non-native Bush & Vine Honeysuckles including Amur Honeysuckle, Morrow, Tatarian, Japanese (Lonicera maackii, L. morrowii, L. tatarica, L. japonica)
• Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima)
• Burning Bush (Euonymus alatus)
• Japanese Barberry (Berberis thunbergii)

Click on each name above to learn more about each invasive plant and the best removal practices. Looking for more information about other alternatives trees and shrubs that you can plant in place of invasive species? Click here for recommendations and alternatives provided by the Ohio Invasive Plants Council.

How to get this incentive:

To qualify for this program, you must live in the City of New Albany (tax district 222) according to the County Auditor. Please note, mailing address or school district does not always match your actual tax district. If eligible, follow these 3 steps to get the incentive:

1. Remove your invasive tree or shrub. The invasive must be from this list above, or it could be another invasive tree/shrub with prior approval from Franklin Soil and Water.
2. Then, you must replace it with a new NATIVE tree/shrub (cultivars of native plants are acceptable – such as ‘Winter Red’ Winterberry – Ilex verticillata ‘Winter Red’). No invasive or non-natives will be accepted.
3. Submit pictures and receipts to Franklin Soil & Water who will then mail you an incentive check. SUBMIT HERE!

The incentive is up to $500 reimbursement for the new native tree or shrub. Your incentive reimbursement amount will determined by how much you spend on your replacement native tree/shrub.

SUBMIT HERE!

Questions? Contact Franklin Soil & Water at 614-486-9613 or CommunityBackyards@franklinswcd.org.