![]() ![]() ![]() With these species, top-killing actually makes the invasion much worse. Among a few species, injuring or removing the original stem sends a signal to the roots to send up shoots from the entire root system. The vast majority of invasive woody species can produce new growth from the root crown after top-killing and can eventually regrow to maturity. Invasive species professionals call this process of scouting for invasives and treating them while they are still new to an area “early detection and rapid response.” As woody plants grow larger and as the density of invasive plants increases on a site, physical removal becomes difficult to impossible, depending on the resources available.Īnother complicating factor is that killing the above ground portion of woody invasive plants while leaving the roots in tact (known as top-killing) simply does not work in the long term. In an ideal world, all land managers would know how to identify invasive plant seedlings, look for them frequently, and pull them out on a regular basis. Uprooting woody plants is obviously much easier when they are still seedlings. Pulling woody invasive plants out of the ground, roots and all, is the only completely effective way to ensure the plants are gone and won’t come back. No sugar coating here: managing woody invasive species is difficult. On and near agricultural land, certain invasive woody plants are managed to prevent the spread of crop pests. On transportation rights-of-way, woody invasive species are managed to improve sightlines. On utility rights-of-way, woody invasive species are managed to protect the infrastructure from damaging roots (in the case of underground infrastructure) and tall branches (in the case of overhead infrastructure). Also, the gardening community is becoming increasingly aware of the benefits of native plantings to pollinators and wildlife, and many are actively working to keep invasive plants out. In gardens and other landscaped properties, woody invasive plants are managed to prevent them from spreading on the property and to neighboring properties. Many timber species will not germinate under the dense shade of an invaded understory. On timber land, woody invasive species are managed to maintain access for maintenance and harvesting equipment and to encourage the regeneration of valuable timber species. On public lands used for recreation, woody invasive species are managed for many of the same reasons as natural areas, but managers may also seek to control dense invasions to improve access to trails and other features, to decrease wildfire risk, and to reduce the populations of tick species that often thrive in dense underbrush. In wetlands, woody species are managed to maintain movement of water through the habitat and to improve native plant diversity. In prairie or grassland systems, invasive woody species are managed to prevent transition into a shrubland. Managing invasive plants can also improve the regeneration of canopy trees and the overall longevity of the forest. In forests, invasive woody species are managed to free up resources, including space, sunlight and water, for native shrubs, herbaceous plants and understory trees. ![]() In a natural areas context, woody invasive species are managed to increase the diversity of the plant community, resulting in better habitat for native wildlife. It depends very much on the site being considered! ![]()
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