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Cities • Rivers • Lakes • Road corridors
Urban plantings and water corridors are two of the fastest “distribution networks” for invasive trees. Street trees and ornamentals can escape into parks and edges, and rivers/lakes create ideal germination zones. This page spotlights three trees commonly encountered in neighborhoods and around NH waterways and gives you a simple yard plan.
Simple rule: if you’re seeing seedlings or stump sprouts, you’re past the “ornamental” stage — treat it as a spreading population.
These three species are frequently encountered in developed areas and along rivers/lakes. Use the “fast ID” cues, then jump to reporting and the homeowner plan.
Where it’s from: Europe & western Asia; widely planted as a street/shade tree.
Fast ID: milky sap from snapped leaf stem; dense shade; many seedlings in lawns/woods edges.
What to do: pull seedlings early; remove seed-producing trees near woods/streams; replace with native maples where appropriate.
Where it’s from: Asia; thrives in disturbed urban soils and corridor edges.
Fast ID: long compound leaves; crushed leaf odor; prolific sprouts and root suckers.
What to do: avoid simple cutting (it resprouts). Use a planned control approach with follow-up; remove seedlings promptly; report expanding patches.
Where it’s from: Europe; invades wetlands, lakeshores, and forest edges.
Fast ID: glossy oval leaves with curved veins; dark berries; forms dense thickets near water.
What to do: pull small plants; cut-stump treatment is often needed for larger stems; prevent berry spread along shorelines and streams.
Reminder: shoreline work can be regulated. When you’re working near lakes/rivers, check local guidance and avoid creating bare soil that erodes into the water.
New Hampshire commonly uses EDDMapS for invasive plant reporting, and UNH Extension is a great “what is it / what do I do” starting point. If you’re dealing with lake or river shoreline issues, NH DES invasive species resources can also be relevant.
NH state lists + maps — explore lists, verify presence, and use EDDMapS reporting tools.
Identification + management in NH — UNH notes EDDMapS is used in NH for reporting and tracking.
State invasive plant guidance — lists and program information for NH.
Lake/river invasive species program — aquatic invasive tracking and lake resources.
Submit possible aquatic invasive findings — useful if your concern is aquatic/shoreline related.
Photo checklist: leaves close-up • bark • twigs • flowers/fruit • the whole tree • any seedlings/sprouts • the setting (street, park, riverbank, lakeshore).
This is the practical playbook for yards in cities, along rivers/streams, and near lakes. If you want deeper technique pages, jump to Tree Removal.
The best control is removal + replacement. Choose species that fit your site (sun, moisture, soil) and help stabilize edges.
Red maple (site‑appropriate), serviceberry, native oaks (where space allows), and mixed native understory shrubs.
Willows (site‑appropriate), river birch, red osier dogwood, and other native riparian plantings that stabilize banks.
Native shrubs and small trees that create a stable buffer; prioritize diversity and avoid bare soil on slopes.
Good workflow: remove invasives → replant same week → schedule two “seedling patrol” walks per year (spring + late summer).
This page connects to the broader New England invasive tree network: Massachusetts · Maine · Connecticut · Vermont · Rhode Island · Delaware ·
Yes — UNH Extension points NH residents to EDDMapS for reporting and tracking invasive plants, and it’s widely used across the region.
Verify and report first, then plan removal carefully to avoid erosion. Use stabilizing replanting and avoid leaving exposed soil that washes into the lake or river.
Remove seedlings and young trees immediately, and coordinate on seed sources (fruiting trees) near parks, streams, and trail corridors.
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