Penn State Cooperative Extension will hold two lectures next week in Meadville -- one on invasive plants Tuesday and another on pruning Wednesday.

Invasive plants affect us whether we farm, live in town, or even purchase food. We wage war on weeds to minimize economic crop losses, which could otherwise exceed 25 percent of the harvest. Invasive plants further pose a serious threat to native species and our natural ecology. Whether we call them exotic invaders, aggressive natives, or horticultural escapes, these plants are changing our landscapes.

At 7 p.m. Tuesday in Trinity Lutheran Church, 649 Park Avenue, participants will learn the history of exotics in the landscape, what characteristics invasive plants share in common, assessing ones own situation, and control measures.

National Association of Realtors research has shown that a healthy, well functioning landscape can contribute up to 25 percent of a property's value. Pruning is a most common and well-used tool to maintain plant value. However, poor pruning leads to poor plant health, lost value, and possible injury. There is science behind the art of good pruning.

At 6:30 p.m. Wednesday in Crawford County Cooperative Extension meeting room at 13400 Dunham Road, Suite A, participants will learn how to prune to minimize plant injury and decay, how to renovate and maintain shrubs and small trees, and how to hire a tree expert for large work.

Both lectures, free to the public, are made possible through a partnership of DCNR Bureau of Forestry, Penn State Cooperative Extension, Penn State School of Forest Resources, and USDA Forest Service. Call by Monday to attend. For more information, call Scott Sjolander at Penn State Cooperative Extension at (814) 333-7460.