From replanting trees and stabilizing soil to managing invasive species, thoughtful land recovery helps protect homes, waterways, and wildlife while enhancing our region’s natural beauty.
Buncombe County Soil & Water Conservation is hosting a Land Recovery Series that explores home vegetation rehabilitation after Tropical Storm Helene.
We will be joined by local experts who will discuss selecting trees, managing invasive plants, using plants to mitigate the effects of damage, and replanting in storm-damaged areas.
The events are free and will be held monthly from August to November.
Each session will include a classroom portion and an outdoor/indoor demonstration. Registration for in-person attendance is required, and each class is capped at 40 participants. Click here to register.
All sessions will be held at the N.C. Cooperative Extension Office at 49 Mount Carmel Road in Asheville, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Funding for this series is provided by the Pigeon River Grant from The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina.
Land Recovery Series
August 27:What Tree Should I Plant? Tree Selections in Western North Carolina
April Wilson - Stump Sprout Tree Consulting
April Wilson, a local ISA Board-Certified Master Arborist, will present her findings on tree failures after Helene. Class participants will examine why some trees are more prone to failure and talk about how to create an urban canopy that is more storm-resistant. We will also discuss climate migration and look at some species that are less common in the landscape but will be highly suitable for the environment we will face in Western North Carolina in the future.
September 24:Invasive Species Management Post-Helene
Luke Owen - Buncombe Co. Cooperative Extension
Invasive plants negatively impact wildlife habitats, human infrastructure, agricultural operations, and more – and natural disasters and other disturbances create conditions for them to thrive. Join Buncombe County Cooperative Extension’s Commercial Horticulture Agent, Luke Owen, to learn what to look for, how to gameplan, and how to utilize IPM (Integrated Pest Management) for holistic invasive plant management.
October 22: Phytoremediation & Streambank Restoration
Marc Williams - Botany Everyday
Phytoremediation entails the use of plants to mitigate the effects of some type of environmental toxin or damage and may be used to simply re-vegetate and stabilize a disturbed area. In the process, phytoremediation may offer a suite of benefits, including carbon sequestration, erosion control, increased water quality, aesthetic value, food for wildlife, craft materials, and more. The potential threat from toxins to those interested in foraging or community gardening in polluted urban environments will be a particular focus in this talk presented by Ethnobiologist Marc Williams of Botany Everyday.
November 19: Replanting in Storm-Damaged Areas with Meadows and Native Grasses
Nathan Buchanan - Wildbud Natives & Kim Bailey - Milkweed Meadows
Looking for guidance on planting in places that are newly opened after trees were downed by Helene? Nathan Buchanan, owner of Wildbud Natives, and Kim Bailey of Milkweed Meadows, will highlight the ecological themes of disturbance and succession to discuss the use of native meadows and grasses in disturbed areas. Practical tools, including seed recommendations, seed sources, and sowing techniques, will be provided.
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