It’s easy to believe the southeastern part of the United States has invasive plants. It’s hot, humid, and tropical in that region, with a six-month rainy season. But did you know our beautiful State of Wisconsin has its fair share of invasive plants too?
It sure does, and they’re known as Terrestrial Invasives. These types of plants affect the health of our forests, prairies, parks, urban landscapes, and more. When these landscapes are unhealthy, all the benefits they give us are at risk. But you can make a difference.
What Types Of Invasive Plants Does Wisconsin Have?
According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, in Madison, Wisconsin, there are five categories of Terrestrial invasive plants in our State. If you were to look up each section, you’d discover the list of plants that are considered invasive.
Below we’ve listed the five primary categories and a few invasive species in their category:
- Trees – Black Locust, Common Blackthorn, Tree-Of-Heaven
- Shrubs – Eurasian Bush Honeysuckles, Glossy Buckthorn, Japanese Barberry
- Vines – Chinese Yam, Oriental Bittersweet, Porcelain Berry
- Forbs – Canada Thistle, Creeping Bellflower, Spotted Knapweed
- Grasses – Cattails, Phragmites, Red Canary
If you’re a homeowner or property manager and discover your properties have these plants. Give our Landscape Associates team members a call, and we will eradicate the infestation.
What’s The Best Way To Prevent Terrestrial Invasives?
To help prevent the introduction and spread of terrestrial invasive plants. There are a few action steps at your disposal you can take.
- Plan activities that won’t introduce and spread an invasive species
- Avoid working in or traveling through small, isolated dense patches of invasive plants
- Clean and wash clothing, equipment, and shoes when leaving an infested areas
- Minimize any potential soil disturbance
- Confirm with an expert you are not planting known invasive plants
- Tell those you know, family and friends, about common invasive species
When you start incorporating these six steps today, your chances of finding more terrestrial invasive plants in the future on your property will grow smaller and smaller.
What Methods Of Control Can You Use?
Along with prevention, you will also need effective ways to control an invasive species. The most effective methods of control are:
- Manual – Activities that include hand pulling, digging, flooding, etc.
- Mechanical – The use of various tools and machines
- Biological – Using insects, fungi, or disease-causing organisms
- Chemical – Applying herbicides and the correct application method
When you use multiple control methods, you reduce the density and eradicate the infestation. Once you’ve got all that under control, your next step is to follow up. The final control step is monitoring new plants, regrowth, and flowering, generally within the same growing season.
Not Enough Time To Take Control?
At Landscape Associates, we understand preventing and taking control of terrestrial invasive plants is time-consuming. Homeowners and property managers are extremely busy. That’s where we come in and take that burden off your shoulders when you give us a call.
For more tips and advice from Landscape Associates, sign up for our free e-mail newsletter or check out our other articles here. If you are concerned about your landscape, contact us here or give us a call at 920-337-4915 with questions you may have.