Union County’s Battle Against Nature’s Most Destructive Invaders: How Smart Landscaping Can Save Your Property

Union County, New Jersey, finds itself on the front lines of a growing ecological crisis. The Spotted Lanternfly (SLF) is an invasive, non-native pest that recently arrived in the United States and has appeared in Union County. This destructive insect, along with other emerging threats like the emerald ash borer, poses significant challenges to homeowners and businesses throughout the region. However, strategic landscaping defenses can provide effective protection against these invasive species while maintaining the beauty and value of your outdoor spaces.

Understanding the Threat: Spotted Lanternfly and Beyond

The Spotted Lanternfly is known to feed on 70 different species of trees, shrubs and vines. They are especially destructive to grape vines and fruit crops. They also secrete a sticky “honeydew” that can foul patios, outdoor furniture and other surfaces. What makes this pest particularly concerning is its rapid spread—it has since been sighted in 15 states including New Jersey.

The emerald ash borer represents another significant threat to Union County’s urban forest. The beetle, known as the Emerald Ash Borer has already arrived in ten New Jersey counties, destroying a swath of ash trees, and while there have not been no reported infestations in Union County, experts are saying that the dangerous insect will arrive here, if it hasn’t already. The tree will usually be dead within three years. The infestations throughout the U.S. and Canada have killed tens of millions of ash trees since 2002.

Landscaping as Your First Line of Defense

Professional landscaping companies understand that effective pest management begins with smart design choices. One of the easiest methods of landscaping to prevent pests from entering the home is to properly prune trees and shrubs to increase their distance from the structure. This fundamental principle applies directly to managing invasive species threats.

Avoid planting too close to your house. Plants installed less than two feet from your house at maturity are too close and provide harborage for nuisance wildlife. This spacing strategy becomes even more critical when dealing with invasive pests that can use vegetation as highways to reach your home and property.

Strategic Plant Selection and Habitat Management

One of the most effective defenses against spotted lanternfly involves targeting its preferred habitat. Reducing their habitat: the Ailanthus (Tree-of-Heaven) tree is the primary host for the Spotted Lanternfly. The preferred habitat of the spotted lanternfly is the ailanthus tree, or Tree-of-Heaven. Because the ailanthus tree is an invasive non-native species, removing it can enable more diverse, native species to grow while also reducing breeding opportunities for the spotted lanternfly. However, property owners are advised to consult a professional landscape or tree service to remove ailanthus trees.

You can add plants and herbs to your yard that will naturally dissuade pests from raiding your beautiful garden and help keep them away from your home. If you’re looking to repel snails, plant rosemary or fennel. If you want to guard against ants or beetles, try spearmint or artemisia. Chrysanthemums are gorgeous, and they’ll help repel all kinds of pests, including roaches, ants, silverfish, and lice.

Proper Maintenance and Monitoring

Effective pest management requires ongoing vigilance and proper maintenance practices. Landscaping pest control also involves mowing your lawn on a regular basis because pests like to hang out in tall or scraggly grasses. During the growing season, you want to mow your lawn weekly, keeping it to a 3- to 4-inch height. This will help discourage insects from hanging out too close to your home.

Proper spacing between plants reduces shadows and improves air flow. Planting at the right spacing not only helps to prevent pests but will also improve overall plant health. This approach creates an environment less conducive to pest establishment while promoting the health of beneficial plants.

Water Management and Drainage Solutions

Water attracts pests, especially mosquitoes, which only need a few tablespoons of standing water to breed. Prevent excess moisture by designing your landscaping for proper water drainage. Professional landscapers union county understand that effective drainage systems not only protect your property from water damage but also reduce conditions that attract invasive pests.

Direct landscape irrigation heads away from the foundation of your house. Mulch should be no more than two to three inches deep in plantings, and no more than two inches deep if within 12 inches from the foundation of your house. These practices prevent moisture accumulation that can attract both invasive insects and other unwanted pests.

Integrated Pest Management Through Design

Urban Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an environmentally sensitive approach to controlling pests that does not rely totally on pesticides. IPM depends on frequent monitoring of plants or structures and the accurate diagnosis of the pests so that control strategies are used only when and where needed.

Solid surface materials like pavers, flagstone, or concrete slabs minimize soil exposure, reducing places where bugs can breed. Proper installation with polymeric sand between pavers also helps seal the gaps, discouraging ant colonies or weeds. These hardscaping elements create barriers that invasive species find difficult to cross or colonize.

Professional Expertise Makes the Difference

While homeowners can implement many defensive strategies, professional landscaping services bring specialized knowledge and experience to the fight against invasive species. Cultural control depends on knowledge of the plant’s needs in a landscape or garden. Stressed plants are more susceptible to insects, fungi, viruses, etc. First, select a plant that will grow well under the soil, water, and light conditions of the site.

Companies like Union Landscaping understand the importance of sustainable practices in pest management. Union Landscaping offers a range of sustainable landscaping services designed to create beautiful outdoor spaces while minimizing environmental impact. Our eco-friendly options include native plant installations that require less water and maintenance, efficient drip irrigation systems to conserve water, and organic mulching to enrich the soil naturally.

Taking Action Against Invasive Threats

The battle against invasive species like the spotted lanternfly and emerald ash borer requires immediate action and long-term planning. Union County residents can take action against this destructive pest now, by inspecting their yards, and removing the eggs before they hatch. However, comprehensive landscape management goes beyond individual pest removal to create environments that naturally resist invasion.

Promoting biodiversity through planting and maintaining mixed species is our best defense against widespread pest epidemics. This approach, combined with proper spacing, drainage management, and regular maintenance, creates landscapes that are both beautiful and resilient against invasive threats.

Union County’s emerging pest threats represent a serious challenge, but they’re not insurmountable. Through strategic landscaping that incorporates defensive design principles, proper plant selection, and professional expertise, property owners can protect their investments while contributing to the broader effort to control these invasive species. The key lies in understanding that effective pest management begins with the landscape itself—creating outdoor spaces that naturally resist invasion while providing the beauty and functionality that make properties truly valuable.