Invasive Plant Management: Prevention

The most effective, economical, and ecologically sound approach to managing invasive plants is to prevent them from invading in the first place. Land managers often concentrate on fighting well-established infestations, at which point management is expensive and eradication is unlikely. Infestations must be managed to limit the spread of invasive plants, but weed management that controls existing infestations while focusing on prevention and early detection of new invasions can be far more cost-effective.

Invasive plant prevention depends on:

• Limiting the introduction of invasive plant seeds;
• Early detection and eradication of small patches of invasive plants;
• Minimizing the disturbance of desirable plants along trails, roads, and waterways;
• Maintaining desired plant communities through good management;
• Monitoring high-risk areas such as transportation corridors and bare ground;
• Revegetating disturbed sites with desired plants; and
• Evaluating the effectiveness of prevention efforts and adapting plans for the following year.