Fergus Conservation District

06/12/2026

Great turnout at Creekside Park this evening! I don't know the numbers but everybody had a good time! I'm hoping that Ready, Set, Summer becomes a yearly event!

06/11/2026

Tonight! 5-8 Creekside Park, Lewistown! Everybody Welcome!

06/11/2026

Common buckthorn is a strong reminder of why prevention matters. Originally brought to North America as an ornamental shrub, it escaped cultivation and now spreads aggressively in woodlands, riparian areas, and shelterbelts. Once it invades, buckthorn forms dense thickets, shades out native plants, and alters wildlife habitat. Disturbed soil gives it an even greater advantage. The first species to colonize an open patch is often a noxious w**d like buckthorn. That’s why the saying goes: “Cover it up!” Reseeding or mulching disturbed areas
immediately helps prevent reinvasion. Choosing native plants instead of ornamental invasives is one of the simplest and most effective ways Montanans can stop buckthorn and other invaders before they start.

Don’t Plant Common Buckthorn
• Introduced as an ornamental
• Spreads rapidly by seed and root suckers
• Forms dense, impenetrable thickets
• Outcompetes native shrubs and understory plants
• Very difficult and costly to control

Plant These Instead
• Serviceberry (Amelanchier)- Native, wildlife- friendly, and great for hedges
• Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana)- Hardy, attractive, and supports pollinators
• Woods rose (Rosa woodsii)- A tough native shrub that provides habitat and color
• Red-osier dogwood (Cornus sericea)- Excellent for riparian areas and erosion control

06/09/2026

Are you a Realtor looking to get 2 Realtor Credits? Join us 6-18-26 for our Realtor Workshop! Contact Dona for more information.

06/09/2026

Free!! Bring your family and learn :)

06/09/2026

Why is it important to learn how to identify w**ds & prevent their spread? We want to protect the places we love!

06/08/2026