Miller, James H.; Manning, Steven T.; Enloe, Stephen F. 2010. A management guide for invasive plants in southern forests. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS–131. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Southern Research Station. 120 p.
- Never plant recognized invasive plants. Seek information on whether or not a plant is invasive before you purchase it (for lists and descriptions of invasive plants, go to www.invasive.org/weeds).
- Detect invasive plants early through active surveillance of your lands. Map and mark locations of the invasive plants you find. Apply and document eradication treatments and monitor their effectiveness, retreating as needed. If treatments do not work, research ways to improve current treatments or find more effective alternatives.
- If you detect several invasive plants, prioritize your treatment by targeting the worst of the plants first. The worst plant may not be the plant that has infested your land the most, i.e., has the highest level of infestation. In many cases, the worst plant may be the plant that occupies the least territory but has the greatest potential for spreading. You should manage your fight against several detected species by balancing eradication of first entries of high-priority invasive plants with persistent treatment of extensive infestations (see www.invasive.org/south/ for a regional list of High Priority Invasive Species of Southern Forests and Grasslands).
- To prevent spread of invasive species outward from your property, perform road maintenance, timber harvest, and site preparation starting from the boundary of the infested area and working inward, from areas that are not infested to those that are. To prevent the spread of invasive species by contaminated equipment and personnel, postpone all management activities until you have suppressed or eradicated invasive plants from the site, or be prepared for the consequences of wider occupation. Always inspect and clean equipment before moving to another site.
Invasive plant strategies and programs ultimately depend upon the eradication and restoration of one infestation at a time at the local level and preventing new entries. Following these principles will greatly increase the chances of success.
