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Field edges • Stone walls • Old farm sites • Woodland margins
In Maine, many non-native conifers are planted as windbreaks, screens, or “fast-growing” landscape trees. Most stay where they’re planted — but some can naturalize and spread into field edges and woods, especially where there’s open light and disturbed soil.
If you see seedlings spreading, treat the parent tree as the seed source and plan removal or containment. If it’s isolated and not spreading, monitor each spring and remove volunteers promptly.
Some species here are widely planted and not always listed as “regulated.” The yard-level signal is simple: seedlings = spread.
These trees are non-native to Maine and commonly planted in the Northeast. If they begin spreading on your property, treat them as invasive and remove seed sources early.
Where it’s from: northern Europe and northern Asia; widely planted and naturalized in parts of North America.
Fast ID: blue-green needles (2 per bundle), orange upper bark, small cones.
What to do: remove cone-producing trees if seedlings are present; pull or clip seedlings each season; replant with Maine natives.
Where it’s from: Europe; heavily promoted as a tough ornamental/windbreak in the U.S.
Fast ID: stiff dark needles in pairs, thick rough bark, dense crown.
What to do: avoid planting; remove if it’s seeding into edges; contain and discard cones; monitor for volunteers.
Where it’s from: northern/central Europe; widely planted in cool climates.
Fast ID: long hanging cones; drooping branchlets; dark green sharp needles.
What to do: remove volunteers promptly; if seedlings are spreading near woods, prioritize seed trees closest to the forest edge.
Maine has strong mapping tools and state partners. If you find spreading seedlings or a stand expanding into woods, reporting helps land managers track and prioritize action.
Maine iMap information — view confirmed records; registered users can submit and manage reports.
Maine invasive species lists & contacts — explore lists and connect with verifiers and programs.
Maine invasive plant rules — what’s regulated for sale/distribution and how to report violations.
MISN — education, coordination, and mapping links for invasive species in Maine.
Photo checklist: needles close-up • cone close-up • bark • whole tree • nearby seedlings • the site (edge/field/woods).
Use this homeowner plan. It’s designed for Maine properties where field edges and forest margins meet lawns, driveways, and stone walls.
For broader removal guidance, see: Tree Removal.
This page connects to the broader New England invasive tree network: Massachusetts · Maine · Connecticut · Vermont · New Hampshire · Delaware ·
Replanting helps prevent reinvasion by restoring shade and competition. Choose natives matched to your soil moisture and light.
Eastern white pine, red spruce (site-dependent), and mixed native hardwoods for long-term resilience.
Red spruce, balsam fir (where appropriate), eastern hemlock (site-appropriate, consider local pest guidance).
Planting tip: When you replant, keep a small “seedling patrol loop” in your yard routine (spring + late summer).
This page connects to the broader New England invasive tree network: Massachusetts · Maine · Connecticut · Vermont · New Hampshire · Delaware ·
Not necessarily. Maine regulates certain invasive plants for sale/distribution, but many non-native conifers are commonly planted. The practical rule for homeowners is: if it’s reproducing into nearby areas, treat it like an invasive situation and stop the seed source.
Photograph needles (close), cones, bark, and overall form — then use Maine iMap/MNAP resources and EDDMapS to compare and, if needed, submit for verification.
Start with a perimeter seedling survey. If seedlings are spreading, remove seed trees closest to the woods/edges first and keep a volunteer-removal routine until spread stops.
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