Invasive Species Control on Small Farms

What makes a plant invasive?

An invasive species is a non-native plant, animal, or pest that spreads and harms the local economy, land, or environment. Not every non-native plant is invasive, and not every weed is an invader, so identification matters.

Common signs are rapid spread, dense patches that choke out other plants, and few natural controls. State lists of invasive plants, which vary, help you know what to watch for.

Learn the invasive species list for your state before you walk your land. State and regional lists describe the plants that cause the most trouble locally, with photos and notes on where they tend to grow. Knowing a short list of likely invaders makes your first walk far more useful.

How do you find invasives early?

Walk property lines, fence rows, stream edges, field margins, and any disturbed ground, since invaders often start there. Early detection is the cheapest stage of control, when a plant or a small patch can be dealt with before it sets seed.

Photograph unfamiliar plants and ask your county extension office, conservation district, or state invasive species program to identify them.

Report what you find when your state asks for it. Many states run reporting programs, and early reports help officials track spread and sometimes provide advice or help. Ask your extension office or state invasive species program how reporting works where you live.

• Check edges, fence rows, and streambanks
• Look at disturbed soil and spoil piles
• Photograph and report new plants
• Check again after storms and flooding

How do you set priorities?

Start with small new patches of the most harmful species, then move to larger ones. Protect your best ground first, such as pastures, woodlots, and waterways. Trying to clear everything at once usually fails.

Write a plan that lists species, places, method, timing, and follow-up, and keep records of what you do.

Burning, cutting, and grazing are not always safe or allowed. Burning rules vary by county and season, grazing can spread seed on the animals, and cutting at the wrong time can scatter seed. Check with the right office before you use any of them, and do not burn without the required permission and safe conditions.

What control methods exist?

Methods include hand pulling, digging, repeated cutting or mowing, grazing, smothering, burning where permitted, and herbicide. The right choice depends on the species, how it spreads, and the size of the patch. Some plants resprout if cut at the wrong time, and others spread through disturbance.

Your extension office or state invasive species program can describe methods that suit your plants and when they work best.

Disposal is part of the job. Seed heads, root pieces, and cut stems can sprout where you leave them, so bag or cover what you remove, and ask your county or extension office how to dispose of it in your area. Do not put invasive plants in a compost pile unless local guidance says it is safe.

How do you use herbicides responsibly?

Herbicides can be useful for some invaders, but the label is the law. It states target plants, sites, protective equipment, and limits near water, animals, and crops. Follow it exactly and never use a product on a plant that is not listed.

For large jobs, steep ground, or places near water, consider a licensed applicator. Ask your extension office what is permitted and effective locally.

Think of neighbors as partners. Invaders cross property lines, and a joint effort with neighbors, a conservation district, or a local weed group can be far more effective than working alone, and it often costs less per person.

• Identify the plant before choosing any method
• Read and follow the full label
• Keep products away from water and neighbors
• Use licensed help for large or sensitive sites

How do you stop it from coming back?

Bare ground invites new weeds. Replant disturbed areas with desirable plants suited to your site, and monitor for several years, since seeds in the soil can sprout long after the visible plants are gone.

Clean boots, tools, and equipment after working in infested areas, so you do not spread seed. Use clean hay and seed.

What rules and help exist?

Some invasive plants are legally regulated, and selling, moving, or failing to control them may be restricted. Those rules are local and vary by state and county. Ask your state department of agriculture, county weed office, or extension office what applies, and ask your NRCS service center and conservation district about technical help or cost-share programs.

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the Homestead & Small Farm Editorial Team. See our editorial policy.