Virginia Regulatory Town Hall
Agency
Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
 
Board
Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
 
chapter
Regulations for Tradespersons Installing Invasive Plant Species [2 VAC 5 ‑ 455]
Action Promulgate regulations governing the installation of invasive plant species by tradespersons in Virginia
Stage NOIRA
Comment Period Ended on 12/6/2023
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11/11/23  10:34 am
Commenter: Sheryl Smith

No invasives, please!
 

Invasive species should not be sold at all.  According to the Virginia Department of Forestry, Virginia spends $1billion dollars per year battling invasive species.

But, since this is the best we can get for now...

This written notification should be 8.5x11 inches, 16 point or larger font.  There should be no space on the page used for advertising for the tradespeople.  There should be a separate notification for each species, including information on that specific species.

 

The page should include:

  1. the harm that the species has done in Virginia
  2. the $1billion dollars per year currently being spent to battle invasives. 
  3. the potential for harm in nearby areas, including both neighboring yards and wild areas nearby.
  4. how the plant could spread to nearby areas - birds spreading seeds, runners, wind, etc. 
  5.  a picture of the plant in a wild area, illustrating the harm done by the plant, with a caption describing the image.

A bonus: Virginia native alternative plants should be listed.  The homeowner could then ask, "why can't we just use this other one?"

CommentID: 220638