Trees and plants provide shade and beauty and help with water and soil retention. Some trees and shrubs, however, are invasive and can harm the local environment. Here’s what tree care professionals want you to know about keeping invasive plants under control. 

How to Control Invasive Plants

1. Woody Bushes

Some properties use woody shrubs like the invasive autumn olive to control erosion in disturbed areas. Invasive species often thrive in poor soil and spread quickly, displacing native plants. Control the growth of invasive bushes by pulling them out of the ground with a weed wrench when the soil is saturated. They can resprout if the entire root system is not removed. You can also use the cut-and-paint method to get rid of them. After you cut the plant down to two inches in height, coat the stump and its outer rings with herbicides. 

2. Ground Covers

Don’t allow invasive perennial ground covers—bugleweed, for example—to grow near your lawn or flower beds. They can survive in sun or shade, and their root systems are fast-growing and extensive. You can control invasive ground covers with repeated mowing and weed whacking. Cut the plant down as close to the soil as possible, which forces the roots to use reserved energy to regrow. Eventually, if you remain vigilant, their reserves will deplete. 

3. Invasive Trees

The tree-of-heaven is an invasive tree commonly seen in Indiana, where they are known to outgrow local species. It’s best to rid your property of invasive trees while they’re still young. You can pull seedlings up and use the cut-and-paint technique for saplings. Another useful control option is to girdle trees. Using an ax or chainsaw, carve away a ring of  bark from the tree’s trunk. With time, the tree above the girdle will die, and you can have a tree care company remove it.

For more tree care tips or maintenance, look no further than the team at Russell’s Tree Care Services Inc. As the go-to tree service in Demotte, IN, their professional staff provides superior service, including herbicide application, tree removal, stump grinding, and vegetation management. To speak with one of their ISA-Certified Arborists® about your property, call (219) 987-4378, or visit them online today to learn more about their tree services.