How to Control Invasive Plants
There are a wide variety of basic techniques for controlling invasive pants. The techniques include manual controls, such has hand-pulling, digging, flooding, mulching, and burning; mechanical controls, such as pulling, cutting, girdling, tilling, mowing, and chopping with various tools and machines; chemical controls; and biological controls. The control of invasive plants varies. Some control methods work better than others for some types of invasive plants, the time of year may also contribute to your control method, and many times several control methods are needed to eliminate an invasive plant species.
The Midwest Invasive Plant Network’s (MIPN) Invasive Plant Control Database
MIPN’s Invasive Plant Control Database is an excellent resource to help you with your invasive management needs. The database contains information on how to control many invasive plants common to the Midwestern United States. The information was collected from both scientific literature and expert opinions and summarized by MIPN, in partnership with the Mark Renz lab from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. For more information and to access this database, click HERE.
Native Plant Nurseries in Wisconsin
These companies, individuals, and organizations may be able to provide you with seed or plants native to Wisconsin or the Midwest. Except as noted, seeds and plants are generally nursery grown. Companies listed in the back section provide consulting, design, landscape installation, and/or maintenance services. Those nurseries that offer plants with seed and consulting services are listed under nursery sections. Download the PDF.
Wisconsin Native Plant Sources – WI Department of Natural Resources
This publication provides a list of nurseries and native restoration consultants that can help make your natural landscaping plan a reality. The list includes companies in Wisconsin and nearby in neighboring states. Often, nurseries near to you sell local genotypes of plants that are better suited to local conditions. For more information, view the downloadable PDF.
Restoration Consultants in Wisconsin
These companies and individuals operate as consultants in Wisconsin and the surrounding areas. Although most simply do consultation, some will provide planting and management services. Link to the latest list.
The “Betty Book”
The book, entitled Invasive Plants of the Upper Midwest – An Illustrated Guide to Their Identification and Control by Elizabeth Czarapata contains a lot of information on both identification and control. It explains what types of control methods are best for certain types of invasive plants. If you are interested in this book, you can order it HERE.
Article on Phragmites Control Project
This is an article written by former board member, Pat Trochlell, which keeps us current on a phragmites control project taking place here in Wisconsin. Pat will be updating this article as the control project continues.
The following pages are also provided to help with your control efforts: