Hamilton County Soil and Water Conservation District
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  • Home
  • About
    • About >
      • Staff & Supervisors >
        • Supervisor- Nominee Info Sheets
    • Donate/Affiliate Membership
    • Jobs & Internships
    • Newsletter >
      • News articles
    • Volunteer Opportunities
    • Strategic Plan
    • Contractor List
  • Programs & Services
    • Ag Stewardship/INfield Advantage >
      • Agriculture Resources
    • Drainage
    • Financial Assistance/Cost Share Programs
    • Invasive Species >
      • Invasive Trade In Program
      • Hamilton County Invasives Partnership
    • Map Resources
    • Native Plant Sale
    • Native Tree Sale
    • Rain Barrel Info & Sales
    • Rule 5 Submission
    • Soil Is Alive: Soil Health Trailer
    • Soil Maps & Surveys
    • Soil Testing
    • Stony Creek Feasibility Study
    • Photo Contest
    • Well Capping
    • Well Water Testing
    • Report a Polluter
    • Tool Loan Program
    • Video Resources
  • Urban Conservation
    • Backyard Conservation
    • Conservation Playhouse
    • Urban Agriculture >
      • Donate Your Vegetables
      • Garden Resources
    • Creating and Maintaining a Prairie
    • Restoring HOA Native Landscapes
    • Stormwater Landscape Maintenance Training
    • Rain Garden Info
    • Seed pack
    • Tree Info
    • Where to buy native plants & seed
  • Events
    • Workshops & Events
    • Rain on Main
    • Sustainability Workshop
    • Past events & recordings
  • Online Store

Hamilton County SWCD News

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Hamilton County Soil Testing Data for 2020

3/30/2021

 
Diane Turner - Conservation Technician & Outreach Assistant

Are you curious to see how your soil test results stack up against others within Hamilton County, or even other residents across Indiana? We are excited to share our year-end-report from all submitted tests from 2020.  Look below to learn more about averages found in the completed tests  for the last year.     ​
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Summaries provided by A&L Great Lakes Laboratories.  

Soil Testing Now Can Produce Results Later

3/26/2021

 
Mark McCauley - Resource Conservationist
​

It’s that time of year again, when many landowners begin to think about their lawns, vegetable and flower gardens, trees, and even things like wildlife forage plots and livestock pasture. But there is one thing that is common to all of these, and that is the Soil!  The condition of your soil can affect the quality and feasibility of all the above, and there is a way you can check on certain aspects of your soil, such as fertility levels, organic matter content, pH level, etc.

Our Soil and Water office provides a soil testing service to assist landowners in taking a closer look at their soil.  Along with your test results will come a report, indicating the current levels of various elements, pH, organic matter, but also recommendations of what soil amendments to apply, how much, and when!  We will also follow up with personal questions specific to your site, if you have them.
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​We have two levels of testing you can request: Basic or Complete, and the majority of our customers select the basic.
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Basic Test - $35
Analysis includes organic matter, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, CEC, pH, and buffer pH.

Complete Test- $45
Analysis includes Basic Test plus conductivity, boron, copper, iron, manganese, sulfur and zinc.

Onsite Service - $50
If you would like the SWCD to take the samples onsite for you (up to a max. of 5), an additional $70 service fee will apply.

For more detailed information on how to take a test, options, etc. see our web site.  You may also fill out the online form through our website and make sample drop-off a breeze. ​
Soil Sampling Website

Alternative Native Groundcover to Replace English Ivy and Wintercreeper

3/25/2021

 
Taylor Wilson, Urban Conservation Technician 

​Considering finally removing those invasive, weedy evergreen vines from your property? Congrats! You’re taking a major step in the control of invasive species not only in your yard, but across the entire state. Both of these vines not only creep along your garden, but also create berries which are eaten by birds and distributed far and wide. By removing these species from your yard, you’re not only protecting you and your neighbor’s properties but also helping to conserve some of our beautiful parks and public lands.

These two species are often used as landscaping plants. Often, what once was just a small patch of vines eventually takes over entire area, garden, or even lawn and becomes the only species present. Since they often take up large areas, when you remove these vines you can be left with areas of completely bare soil. It's important to replace and repopulate these areas with native plants to avoid erosion and soil quality impacts. 

This article won't go into detail about how to identify these plants. For more information, visit the links below or reach out to our office with questions. 
  • English Ivy Identification
  • English Ivy Information
  • Winter Creeper Identification
  • Winter Creeper Information

Removal
Similar to our other invasive species article this spring, the first thing to think about is prioritization. If you will not be removing all of the vines in one year, it's best to get rid of the vines that are producing the most seed. This way, you're slowing the spread of these species and saving yourself some hard work in the future. 
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English Ivy taking over trees. Image from Washington State Noxious Weed Board.
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Close up photo of wintercreeper. Photo by invasive.org
Wintercreeper: This species usually only produces seeds once it grows up something about 5 feet. Usually this is a tree, but it can also be a fence or other structure. The first thing you should do--even if you don't manage anything else--is cut any climbing vines at the base of trees and structures. This will kill the part of the vine you cut, and stop it from producing seeds.

English Ivy: This species usually only produces seeds once it is fully mature. Prioritize the largest vines the first year. Often times vines growing up trees will be larger than the ones growing across your garden or lawn. If you can't fully remove large vines, consider cutting them at the base to stop them from producing seeds this year. 

If you haven’t removed the vines already, there are a few methods for removal.

Mechanical treatment

Groundcover: When the vine is growing across the ground and is still small, mechanical treatment is a viable option. To do this, you would systematically remove all vines and root pieces from the area. Any root pieces left behind may resprout vines. This can be a somewhat tedious task--but rewarding!

Tree Climbing: ​If the vines are climbing and taking over a tree, you may not be able to remove all, or any, of the vine. Removal of vines in trees may damage the bark and hurt the tree. The best course of action is to cut the vine at the base and wait. Make sure the two cut parts of the vine are not in contact. You may try cutting a 1 inch section out of the vine to make sure the cut ends can't reach each other. This article has some great photos of what that might look like. 

Herbicide treatment

If the vines on your property area taking up a large area, or starts resprouting after you cut it on a tree, it may need to be treated with herbicide. Not only will you be saving yourself some hard work, but you'll be protecting your soil. When you remove large sections of vines, you can cause a lot of soil disturbance. Not only can this cause erosion and soil quality issues, but it also can stimulate seed growth of any seeds in the seedbank--including invasives. Specific herbicides should be used for these vines as the leaves have a waxy outer coating. This information, as well as when to use herbicide can be found on the SICIM Calendar of Control.​

Native Alternatives 

Diversity of plants is key when you want to have healthier soil, provide habitat and food for native wildlife and pollinators, and have a more colorful natural area. You can buy a kit with a variety of different plants for sun, shade, and more at our spring Native Plant Sale going on right now. 

Other options are included below. For information on where to purchase these plants, check our webpage Where to Buy Native Plants
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Allegheny spurge (Pachysandra procumbens)
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Golden ragwort (Packera aurea)
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Wild ginger (Asarum canadense)
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Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia)

Spring Invasive Species Management

3/25/2021

 
Taylor Wilson, Urban Conservation Technician

"With the coming of spring comes warmer temperatures and the opportunity to begin yard work and land management. For many, this is an exciting time of year where people can finally begin all the gardening, beatification, and invasive species management plans they’ve been sitting on all winter.

With that in mind, spring can be one of the most overwhelming seasons when it comes to land management. There are so many things that could be done, and most of them are time sensitive. If you're feeling overwhelmed, don’t worry. Below are some things that can help you get started.
 
Strategy
The key to good invasive management is having a good strategic plan. Why? For a few reasons. 1. It’s easier to take a large issue and cut it down into steps. Starting to manage invasives without a plan can quickly become frustrating and feel like you’re not accomplishing anything. 2. You can save yourself time and resources by having a good plan in place. You can think of your strategy in two parts: Short term and long term. 
Short Term
A short term plan is a plan that focuses on just this year. What species will you work on in each season? This largely depends on when that species can be controlled and when it produces seeds. Some species are controlled best during certain seasons. This is especially the case if you are using herbicides. For information on this, check out the SICIM Calendar of Control.

In addition to seasonality, it is best if you can treat invasives before they produce seeds. When you remove a plant before it goes to seed, you’re preventing fresh seed from being distributed on your property or elsewhere via wind, pollinators etc. For example, just one garlic mustard plant can produce as many as 7,900 seeds! For more information on this, read What to Treat below.

Long Term
When creating a long-term plan, there are a few things to consider. Will you focus on a specific area? A specific species? That depends. If you have a particularly aggressive species that spreads quickly, or requires a few years of management to eradicate, you’ll want to start there. If you’re considering focusing on a specific area, you may want to select a place that has very few invasives present and clear that area first to stop it from spreading. These are the basics, and for more information check out the two links below.
If you need help prioritizing, please reach out to our office with questions. 
  • ​Where do I start? Prioritizing Invasives Management​
  • Prioritizing Invasive Plant Control

What to ID
Gardening and landscaping require a lot of focus in spring. If you don’t have time to treat your invasives during this time, it’s a great time to identify and mark the invasives you’re going to treat in the summer and fall. Spring can be a great time to ID some of the most common species.

  • Callery Pear: This species is very easy to identify in the spring. It produces leaves early and is one of the first flowering trees to bloom. This tree is commonly disliked for the smell of the flowers. More info on identification.
  • Bush Honeysuckle: This is one of the first plants to produce leaves and look green in the summer. If you look out at a forest landscape and see a 10-20-foot-tall haze of green, you’re probably looking at Bush honeysuckle. This species doesn’t bloom until late spring. More info on identification.
  • Garlic Mustard: This species will bolt up quickly and has a distinct look. Often, if you see one, you’ll see many in a close area.
  • Canada Thistle: This species bolts in March-May and can be identified by its wavy spiny/toothed margins and its aggressive, weedy nature. Be careful not to confuse it with our native thistles which are a great resource for pollinators. More info on identification. 
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Callery Pear taking over a field. Photo by Davies-Martin County CISMA
Additionally, in early spring you can still identify some evergreen species as listed in our Winter Invasive Management article. 
There are many more invasive species than the ones listed here. If you aren’t sure what plants you have, consider conferring with neighbors or downloading a plant identification app to get you started. 

​​What to Treat
Luckily, there are few very time sensitive species to manage in spring.  See them below
​Urgent:
Garlic Mustard: This species goes to seed as early as May. This species is very easy to remove by hand. Once seed heads appear it’s suggested to not manage it, as you run the risk of spreading it to other areas. Do NOT mow once it has gone to seed. If you don’t have this on your property, consider participating in a weed wrangle where this is the target species.

Soon:
Canada thistle: This species is an aggressive weed that starts to produce seed around mid July.  Manually pulling this species can worsen the problem and spread more thistles. More information about control here. 

Summer and Beyond:
Other species can be treated later into summer, or even over the winter. If you have an invasive not listed here, search for the month that it starts to produce seed and treat it before then. If you can’t find that information, consider searching for the time it blooms and using that month as a deadline.

What Else?
The key to widespread invasive management is education and awareness. As you strategize and manage your property, I encourage you to reach out to your family, friends, and neighbors and explain what you’re doing. It only takes one person in a family, group, or neighborhood to start making an impact. We do best when we learn and work together.
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If you have questions, please reach out to us for more information. Hamilton County SWCD is now offering invasive plant surveys where a member of our staff can visit your property and help you identify species and start to making a management plan. Large properties (acreage) and woodlands are prioritized for this service.  A good way to learn more about invasive species is to join the Hamilton County Invasives Partnership (HIP). The HIP website has a variety of resources related to management and native plants. 
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Annual Meeting Conservation Award Honorees

3/23/2021

 
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Diane Turner - Conservation Technician & Outreach Assistant

Outstanding Partner of Urban Conservation -  Zach Sprunger     
​       

Zach started working with the urban conservation program in 2015 as he worked to increase wildlife and pollinator habitat, reduce runoff, and improve the small woodland area in his sub-division back yard.  In 2019, Zach utilized our Heartland cost share program to add more native plantings and habitat to his property.  While Zach’s work on his own property has been great, he hasn’t stopped there.  He has worked to spread a conservation ethic within his workplace, HOA and broader community. Zach promotes the SWCD and its programs and sales to neighbors and friends and even runs an Instagram account with over 250 followers where he posts beautiful photos of his backyard habitat and the pollinators and wildlife that visit it. 

Partner in Conservation Award - Hamilton County Travel & Tourism

The White River Vision plan is a joint effort between the city of Indianapolis and Hamilton county tourism, Inc.  Their objective was to develop a comprehensive and coordinated regional, community-driven plan to enhance 58 miles of the white river in Marion and Hamilton counties. The goal of the vision plan is to create an accessible, recreational and cultural environment that encourages a unique sense of place for the community as a whole.  Brenda Meyers and the rest of the tourism board should be proud of the work completed on the White River Vision plan and we are proud to call them partners in conservation.  
                   

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Outstanding Service to HCSWCD  - Andrew Justus Fritz

Andrew is a jack of all trades and brought with him experience in landscape design, soils, agriculture and gardening, graphic design, strategic planning, community building, and much more. Andrew built the Hamilton County Garden Network, a variety of technical resources, and a program to deliver hundreds of tomato plants to food pantries.  Andrew’s diverse skillset and willingness to help his coworkers led to his involvement in many SWCD programs and initiatives.  After four years of exemplary service, Andrew moved to California in July and I’m happy to share that he is still putting his conservation expertise to good use at another conservation district.  

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River Friendly Farmer Award - Katy Rogers
            
In 2020 the Soil and Water Conservation District nominated Teter Retreat and Organic Farm, and manager Katy Rogers, for this recognition.  Teter Farm is located within the White River Watershed near Riverwood, just north of Noblesville.  Teter Farm is a mission of Noblesville First United Methodist church.  It was donated by Ruth Teter in 1981 as a memorial to the AW Teter Family, and its mission is to feed mind, body, and spirit by doing good and eating well.  The farm produces USDA certified organic, nutrient dense vegetables through cover cropping and reduced tillage.  This produce is available for purchase through a Community Supported Agriculture plan, local farmer’s market, and through regular donations to the area’s food programs.  The farm uses a sustainable, regenerative cropping system that integrates the ecological sense of nature, helping to build better soil health while protecting the natural environment and sensitive habitat surrounding the farm. 

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soil.water@hamiltoncounty.in.gov
317.773.2181
1717 Pleasant St. Suite 100
Noblesville, IN 46060
Established in 1968
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