What are the Different Methods for Getting Rid of Invasive Plants?
Invasive plants are controlled using mechanical, biological and chemical control methods. The method chosen depends on effectiveness of that method for a particular species, available resources, and the area where the plant is growing. • Mechanical control – is any control method that physically removes plant material, usually by pulling out by the roots or cutting. • Biological control – is any control method that removes plant material, kills a plant or limits its growth using another organism. For example, leaf-feeding beetles (Galerucella spp) are used in some areas to control populations of purple loosestrife. Purple loosestrife is an aggressive, invasive, wetland plant from Europe. The leaf-feeding beetles are from Germany. They feed on the plant and reduce the number of seeds produced and control the spread of new plants so purple loosestrife does not completely dominate a wetland. The leaf-eating beetles have a strong preference for purple loosestrife so damage done to native p
