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Letters to the editor are presented in response to articles in the September 2013 issue, including "Colorful Story" concerning the renovation of the home of "This Old House" editor Scott Omelianuk and his wife, "Plant This, Not That!" concerning invasive plant species, and the "Home Center Project" article on building a bed headboard.

The article informs about a technique related to weed control developed by trained crews at the Department of Environmental Protection in New York City to remove weeds from the Kensico Reservoir Dam before invasive plants grow which could weaken it by allowing water to get into the dam structure.

The article focuses on invasive plant species in Missouri and discusses how to prevent them from growing as they threaten the stability of ecosystems.

The article focuses on the 2012-2022 Statewide Noxious Invasive Pest Program Strategic Plan in Hawaii in response to the threat posed by invasive plant and animal species to the ecosystems in the state. The Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) needs to control and prevent the negative effects of the invasive species on the quality of life, safety, health, environment and jobs. Goals under the plan include prevention, early detection and rapid response and control and management.

The article describes how the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Texas is preventing the proliferation of invasive species that threaten rare and endangered native plants. It discusses the center's Invaders of Texas Citizen Science Program which trains volunteer citizen-scientists to detect and report the spread of invasive species in their areas. It adds that the center is expanding the program into 6 national forests and grasslands in Texas through the U.S. National Forest Foundation.

The article focuses on the plan of the government of Tanzania to conduct a research regarding the effects of the invasive plant species Maesopsis eminii which threatens East Africa's biggest coastal forest that is located in Lindi Region. It says that the study will help prevent the spread of the species from Rondo forest reserve to other areas with the same geographical features. According to Dr. Felician Kilahama the species was introduced long time ago to breed an alternative species.

The article discusses Austin, Texas, which was the first certified Community Wildlife Habitat in Texas. The inspiration for the project was the result of a meeting on climate change by the U.S. National Wildlife Federation (NWF) who suggested the idea to Austin's former mayor Will Wynn. Topics include the city's enthusiasm for the project and the resulting programs such as gardening for wildlife and removing invasive plants from public areas.

The article offers the author's insight regarding the control of invasive plants in the U.S. The author states that as defined by the U.S. National Arboretum, invasive plants have the ability to spread and flourish aggressively outside of their natural range. She says that an open dialogue among the governments, industry, and community representatives regarding invasive issues may produce a productive outcome in dealing with the issue.

The article offers information on the prevention of invasive plant introduction for it cause severe economic and ecological damage in the U.S. It notes that the horticulture industry has developed materials to educate the public and the industry on the harm of invasive plants and promotes noninvasive alternatives. The federal government has recognized invasive plants as the second-most important threat to the environment for they harm human health and livestocks.

An introduction to the journal is presented in which the editor discusses the efforts of nursery growers in controlling invasive plants in the U.S.

The article presents a warning from the Noxious and Invasive Weed Team officials Emilie Justen and Monika Chandler at the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) regarding the spreading of invasive poison hemlock weed in Minnesota and discusses management strategies for preventing its spread.

The article informs that the University of Minnesota will receive 5 million U.S. dollars grant to start the Invasive Terrestrial Plants and Pests Center for research and development to prevent terrestrial invasive plants threats following its approval by State Representative Andrew Falk in 2014.

The article reports that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has now posted on its website the Invasive Plants Directive (D-12-01) which outlines the policy to prevent the introduction and spread of plants considered as pests in Canada.

The article discusses invasive cultivated plants and the potential effects of their spreading in the nature. The author calls for horticulture traders to give priority to the preservation of biodiversity over the financial gains and not to sell invasive plants. He also discusses the need of education and sustainability in the horticulture and landscaping industry.

The article presents the views of Andrew Canham, president of Missouri River Watershed Coalition, on controlling of invasive plants in Riparian areas including leafy spurge and Canadian thistle. He states that the landowners should be aware of their lands condition including growth of desired plant species and detrimental species of plants. Information on the need of public awareness in this area through education is presented.

The article focuses on the efforts of Ed and Sandy Fravel in conserving and maintaining the Loess Hills in Iowa. It mentions the couple's decision to acquire the said hill, measuring more than 300 acres, open for grazing, and cites how they eliminated the invasive eastern red cedar trees to preserve the grasses with the help of the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program of the Department of Agriculture. Their goal to establish wildlife on their hill is also reported.

The article discusses a study by scientists at the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service (ARS), who devised a new strategy to control the proliferation of the invasive aquatic plant, water hyacinth, using the plant-hopping insect Megamelus scutellaris.