Invasive Management

Invasive species management is the key to keeping invasives at bay and encouraging native growth. Invasives may never be fully eradicated, but they can be managed to make minimal impacts on the environment, human health, and the economy. There are different types of management, each with their own pros and cons. 
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Types of Management

There are typically two main types of management: physical and chemical management.

• Physical management is the act of manually removing invasive species by hand or with tools. This process usually relies on removing the entire plant, including the root, in order to stop regrowth or re-sprouting.
• Chemical management is the act of using a herbicide to kill invasive species. There are many different types of herbicide and ways to use it, including foliar spray, cut surface treatment, and basal bark treatment. 

Many people have environmental concerns about herbicide. When using the correct product, at the correct strength and amount, chemical management can be very safe. Herbicide is a key tool in invasive species management and can be impactful in reducing the effect of invasive species in the environment. The impact of herbicide is often minor when compared to the impact of unmanaged invasive plants. 

Some invasives are classified as Noxious Weeds and must be removed according to the Destruction of Detrimental Plant Law. 

INVASIVE SPECIES SURVEYS
​HIP and the Hamilton County SWCD can offer invasive species assessments and help you develop a plan for effective invasive species control.  Large parcels and woodlands are prioritized for this service.  Contact HIP at [email protected]

THE COST OF WAITING
​It costs 75% more to treat a dense infestation versus a low density infestation!

The Cost of Waiting Handout

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What Method to Use

Often the decision between physical and chemical treatment of invasives comes down to scale. For example a small bush honeysuckle may be easily removed by hand, but larger ones may need to be cut and treated. Or in terms of area, a small patch of purple wintercreeper in your landscaping may be removed by hand, but an acre may need to be treated with a foliar spray application. 

Beyond the question of scale, removal methods for invasive species vary widely depending on their reproduction and ecology. Additionally, it takes maintenance to keep invasive species from recolonizing an area. Establishing native species after removal can help keep invasives at bay.  The resources in this section will help you answer the key questions: What do I do? How do I do it? And what resources can I use to get the tools and information I need?

Management/Control Methods

How to prioritize invasive plant removal

Prioritizing Invasive Removal Webinar

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When to treat

Our friends at Southern Indiana Cooperative Invasives Management have created a landowners toolkit for invasive identification and removal. This collection of resources is a great place to start.  These control and management guides are also great resources. 

The SICIM calendar of control treatment calendar is a great way to visualize what time of year, what management style, and herbicide is best for different species. 

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Information by Species

Asian bush honeysuckle
​Canada thistle
​Multiflora rose
Border privet
​Japanese knotweed
Asian bittersweet
White and Yellow Sweet-clover
Poison hemlock
​Tree-of-heaven

Callery pear
​Garlic mustard
​Autumn olive
Common teasle
​White mulberry
Reed canarygrass
​Tall fescue
​Crown vetch
Burning bush

Wintercreeper
Vinca
English ivy
​Burning bush
Japanese honeysuckle
Swallow-worts
​Japanese barberry
Dame's rocket

Emerging invasive species in Hamilton County Indiana

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Management Tools and Resources

The Hamilton County Soil and Water Conservation District Tool Loan Program has weed wrenches and a variety of other tools available for free check out to Hamilton County residents. These tools use leverage to remove invasive species shrubs by the root. Learn more and make a reservation online!

SWCD tool loan program

Invasive Removal Contractors

Contractor Submission

Invasive Tool Maintenance

 Maintaining your tools not only increases their longevity but also your effectiveness in the field.  Check out the document below for recommendations on maintenance of common tools like pruners, loppers, gloves, soil knife, hand saws, shovels, pick axes, and more.  The Tool Maintenance Guide also includes a list of suggested maintenance items including files,  sprays, sharpening kits, etc.

Invasive Tool Maintenance Guide

Tool maintenance videos and other resources:

• U. of Illinois Extension Garden Tool Maintenance Video
• Clean Equipment Protocol Inspecting and Cleaning Equipment for the Purposes of Invasive Species Prevention
• Cleaning to Avoid Spreading Terrestrial Invasive Species
• Standard Loppers Maintenance - Prune Like a Pro
• Garden Tool Maintenance You Shouldn’t Skip​
• How to Clean and Sharpen Pruning Tools

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Report Invasives

Reporting invasives to the correct place is key in invasive species management. 

Invasives along interstates: Include all information on form and species, if possible. 

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Video Resources

SICIM invasive control playlist