Eradicating invasive plants (native and non-native) can be a frustrating and time-consuming process. Relax, take your time, and remember that the invasion(s) took a long time to become established. You cannot expect to cure the problem in a day. But your efforts are worthwhile! Getting to know the enemy is the first step in winning the war, or at least the battle.

Become familiar with the invasive plants of your area so you can recognize them on sight. The list of undesirables varies from state to state and even from area to area within a large state. In Montana, spotted knapweed (Centaurea maculosa) grows so densely on grazing land that in places nothing else can grow. In Michigan, knapweed is not as profuse and can be managed with prescribed burns and competition; garlic mustard and buckthorn are far greater problems.

To select the best approach for dealing with a specific invasive plant, we suggest you learn as much as possible about it.

Most invasive plant web sites will include the following about each plant: native range, origin, distribution, description, ecological threat, the plant’s ecology, successful control or elimination methods, and finally, failed or ineffective practices. You might wonder why one might need all this information, but the more you know, the easier it will be to get rid of your particular plant problem.

A few of the information categories and their importance, are described here.

Native range, origin: Apart from historical curiosity, this information permits us to surmise where in this country the plant might grow. Its history of spread will also give you some idea of what you are up against.

Description, similar species: Being able to recognize a target without hesitation is critically important, after all you are about to try to kill it. Knowing what looks like your target plant helps you avoid killing the good with the bad.

You will have to learn to identify seedlings from experience, especially because the invaders are easiest to eradicate in their earliest stages of life. Unfortunately, most photos and drawings show these plants only at maturity.

This may look like a leafy, woody glade. It's not. The only plant with leaves in this photo is honeysuckle, an invasive which is taking over Kentucky's parks and woodlands. Photo copyright Thomas G. Barnes.

Plant’s ecology: Along with the plant’s description, this information can help you make logical, common sense decisions about how to appraise and approach any specific infestation.

You can learn the plant’s life cycle, methods of reproduction and dispersal, response to seasonal charges, and amount of seed production, as well as the longevity of the seed in a seed bank. This is all very useful information when one is on the warpath. For instance, if you learn that the plant is clonal (like Tree of Heaven), then you must treat every specimen in the area within a short time frame in order to avoid resprouting of the roots.

Successful control/elimination methods, failed or ineffective practices: This information will save you time, money, and frustration.

Resources

Two of the best places to start your search for information are your County Cooperative Extension Service and your state’s natural resources department. In addition, your local park department may have knowledgeable staff. And remember to ask other Wild Ones members!

The list of useful websites is extensive; here are a few to help you get started.
• Plant Conservation Alliance’s Alien Plant Working Group, www.nps.gov/plants/alien. Very user-friendly site if you want the facts and nothing but the facts. Good photos of adult forms. Many links to other helpful sites.
• Vegetation Management Manual, www.inhs.uiuc.edu/edu/VMG/VMG.html. Developed by the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission to provide volunteer groups, laypersons, natural area owners, wildland owners, and others, with easy-to-understand methods for controlling undesirable vegetation in natural areas.
• The Nature Conservancy, http://tncweeds.ucdavis.edu/. As might be expected, this site includes easy access to information about any state in the union. More technical than the first two sites; includes photos of seedlings and young plants. Many links to other helpful sites.
• The Natural Resources Conservation Service, http://plants.usda.gov/. This data base has information about plants in any part of the country. Many references to printed material.

Many states have invasive plant societies which have printed material and/or websites. In addition, the agricultural sections of many state university web sites will include information about controlling invasive species.

Weeds of the Northeast by Richard Uva. Cornell University Press; 1997. ISBN 0-8014-8334-4. Excellent general book about “weeds” (299 listings), but be careful because many natives (which you may or many not consider to be weeds) are listed. Each listing has at least four photos of the plant in question, at various life stages.

Suggestions for Controlling Invasive Species. Ken Solis, Vice-President of the Park People of Milwaukee, WI and chairperson of Milwaukee's Weed-Out Program.

Maryann Whitman is a member of the Oakland (MI) Chapter.

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