Privet (and its partners in crime) Patrol
Privet was planted decades ago as a tidy hedge, but it doesn't stay where we put it. Birds eat the berries and spread the seeds into nearby woods, where dense thickets form and crowd out native plants. What many homeowners don't realize is that a single mature shrub can quietly seed an entire hillside. Privet isn't alone. Barberry, burning bush, multiflora rose, and even the popular butterfly bush spread in the same way - attractive in yards, destructive once they escape.
The good news is that meaningful prevention doesn't require heavy equipment or chemicals. Awareness, timely pruning before berries mature, and proper disposal are often enough to stop the spread.
Stewardship doesn't start in wild places. It starts at home, one plant choice at a time.