Thursday, July 10, 2014

I know from experience that unless monitored closely and removed quickly, it doesn't take long for an invasive plant, flower or vine to become a pesky and permanent resident on your property.

The Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources (dnr.wi.gov) offers some good news: eradicating invasive species on site is an attainable goal, especially if new introductions are detected early. However, eradication may not be feasible when populations are large and pervasive.

When limited resources or the degree of infestation preclude eradication, a more realistic management goal is to control the unwanted species by reducing their density and abundance to a level which does not compromise the integrity of the ecosystem and allows native species to thrive.

The agency says that control programs can include manual, mechanical, chemical, biological and cultural components. Property owners should evaluate their site, the life cycle characteristics of the invasive species and the best available science to determine which control method or combination of methods will be most effective and economical.

By employing a combination of prevention and control measures, homeowners can effectively manage invasive species. This approach is often referred to as integrated pest management (IPM) and can include pulling, cutting, targeted pesticide use, biological controls and native species reintroduction.

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (swfwmd.state.fl.us) actually publishes a 'most wanted' list to help homeowners identify and eliminate invasives like Brazilian pepper, which is now considered one of the most invasive species in the state.

And New Jersey is so serious about rolling back the state's encroaching invasives, the state has established a "Strike Team" that has designed a smartphone app to assist property owners.

The South Jersey Sun News reports that property owners simply need to download the free app and scroll through images and descriptions of invasive species. When they spot a plant that looks like one of the target species, they snap a picture, enter some information about the habitat, and submit it.

Their phone automatically tags on GPS coordinates so the Strike Team can put the details into a statewide database for further action.

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