Invasive Species Trade In Program
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This fall the Hamilton County Invasives Partnership and Hamilton County Soil and Water Conservation District are offering an invasive species trade in program. For a limited time and as supplies last, property owners can show proof of removal of an invasive species on their Hamilton County property and receive at least one free native tree/shrub specimen through the SWCD fall native tree sale.
Program guidelines: Invasive species must be properly identified, removed, and properly disposed of by the homeowner. Landscape plantings of callery pear species (bradford, Cleveland, etc.), burning bush, Japanese barberry, and Norway Maple are the preferred species for removal but you can apply when removing other invasive species listed on the Official Indiana Invasive Species Council Invasive Plant List (found here). How to participate: Review the application form and FAQ below and complete your invasive species removal work. Collect the required documentation (photos, etc.) and submit the application by the September 18th deadline. Applications will be reviewed after the deadline and approval emails will be sent on September 22nd. Please be sure your application is complete and accurate as we will not be able to follow up for clarifications or to request additional information. Approval emails will be sent on September 22nd with a discount code that can be used to order your free tree(s) or shrub(s) from the Hamilton County SWCD tree sale online store. The discount cannot be applied to previous orders. All applicants (up to the first 50) who meet the program guidelines can expect to get at least one free tree/shrub. Tree orders are due on September 28th and orders will be available for pick up in Noblesville on October 14th. Your species selection/order is final, no changes can be made after your order is submitted. The 2022 application period is now closed.
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Did you know? Fall is a great time for invasive species removal work AND the best time to plant trees! Not sure how to identify or control invasive species? See our education and control resource pages for help. You can also contact the HIP tech leader, Taylor Wilson at taylor.wilson@hamiltoncounty.in.gov FAQ: I already removed invasives, can I still apply? Yes, you can submit an application for invasives that were managed anytime in 2022 but you must be able to show evidence of the removal. This could be a before photo (google maps/streetview, background of family photo, etc.) and an after photo that shows the same area with the invasive gone. How many free trees/shrubs can I get? You can request up to 3 free trees/shrubs total. Awards will be based on the # of invasives you removed/square footage cleared and the species removed. Invasives removed from landscape settings are favored. All applicants (up to the first 50) who meet the guidelines should expect to receive at least one tree/shrub. What species are available? We typically have 35-40 different native tree and shrub species available in our tree sale. How many times can I apply? Applications are limited to one per address. Do I have to do the work myself? No, you can hire out contractors to remove invasives. We just need the photographic proof of removal. How do I identify invasive species? How do I manage invasives? Visit these pages: HIP Education page SICIM Landowner Toolkit SICIM Control + Management Contact us at hcinvasives@hamiltoncounty.in.gov Can I order other trees/shrubs from the sale or see what is available? Sure! Feel free to purchase additional trees when claiming your free tree. You can see the availability here. I already ordered trees, can I apply my coupon code to what I already ordered? No, this is not possible. I don't live in Hamilton County, can I participate? Is there a swap in my county? This program is for Hamilton County property owners only. You can find a list of invasive species management groups across the state here and a list of Soil and Water Conservation Districts here-- check with these groups to see what is available in your area. I am removing a mature invasive tree, can I get a larger replacement? The only replacements we have to offer through this program are 3 gallon specimens from our fall native tree sale selections. Questions? Email hcinvasives@hamiltoncounty.in.gov |