Stewards of Kleinstuck

What can YOU do?

Educate yourself about Kleinstuck via this website.

  • Attend a work day (children and dogs are very welcome), even if only for a short time.
  • Plans Native plants in you yards and garden – (Here’s a list of sources in Southwest Michigan.)
  • Visit the trail with attention to and appreciation for the plants and creatures living there.
  • Keep pets from interfering with the areas beyond the trail.
  • Know and eradicate invasive plants when you can. Here are some of the worst:
    • Garlic Mustard: White blooming flower in woodland 6 – 24” (Problem: Shades out native wildflowers and alters soil chemistry. Solution: Pull by hand March – May)
    • Morrow’s Honeysuckle: White to Pink blooming shrub in woodland 3 – 8’ (Problem: Shades out native wildflowers. Solution: Pull by hand March – May)
    • Winged Wahoo/Burning Bush: Shrub 3-6’ in woodland, “wings” of bark on branches (Problem: Shades out native wildflowers. Solution: Pull out smaller shrubs, cut larger.) 
    • Asian Bittersweet: Orange seed pod w/red berry on climbing vines up to 6” diameter (Problem: Smothers and chokes trees and surrounding area. Solution: Cut brush and treat stumps with “brush killer” type herbicides)
    • Glossy Buckthorn: Round glossy leaves and dark black berries in wetland 3 – 10’ (Problem: Shades out native plants, dries out wetland, changes wetland chemistry. Solution: Cut and treat stumps with herbicide (with WMU personnel leadership).
    • Purple Loosestrife: Purple flowers in wetland 3 – 6’ (Problem: Crowds out native plants, dries out wetland, changes wetland chemistry. Solution: Introduce biocontrol: Gallerucella beetles (with WMU personnel leadership).