Invasive Species Control

Invasive species control is the crucial first step of almost every project.

Our team designs optimal control plans and applies them effectively to achieve lasting suppression of all types of invasive species

Site Evaluation

Explore and document the unique soil composition, hydrologic profile, and existing vegetation of each site to determine the most suitable control measures.

Control Techniques

We employ both mechanical and targeted chemical controls to treat invasives while protecting indigenous native plant populations.

Site Prep and Seeding

Installing a simple native meadow completes invasive control by preventing their return. Site prep includes creating the meadow seed bed and removing debris.

Stewardship

Ongoing stewardship is key to maintaining invasive populations at a low level. We can help identify and treat new infestations before they become problems.

Invasive species infestations degrade habitat quality and threaten the resilience of native plant communities. These species are often hardy and difficult to manage. Whatever your invasive species problem, ArcheWild® can leverage our years of experience to find a lasting solution.

Our experienced team of ecologists can design a treatment program that achieves long-term suppression of all types of invasive species, while also selectively preserving remnant native plant communities. We will work with you to develop a management plan that is suitable for your unique site characteristics and individual goals.

We are experienced in all types of invasive species control, including chemical, mechanical and cultural management techniques. All of our team leads are trained and licensed pesticide applicators. We can select the most appropriate techniques and timing to maximize the impact of every treatment, while also utilizing integrated pest management strategies to minimize the need for chemical control.

Large Mechanical Control

For dense, extensive infestations of hardy invasives like barberry, autumn olive, wineberry, multiflora rose, bamboo, kudzu, and more, a large clearing event is often an important first step of an invasive species management program. Specialized equipment is used to mow down invasives and pile or chip the debris.

Care is taken to preserve any desirable native species during clearing, and this type of project often entails a preliminary botanical survey to identify and mark any valuable vegetation. This type of clearing leaves the understory open and readily accessible and brings any invasive regrowth down to a manageable size for follow-up treatment.

Forestry Mowing Riparian Clearing Brush Cutting on Slopes Understory Cleaning

Reed Canary Grass Lesser Celandine Japanese Stilt Grass Silt Fence and Straw Protection

Riparian and Aquatic

Once invasive species populations have been managed sufficiently that establishing competitive vegetation is possible, a cover crop of native grasses or perennials can be a highly effective technique for combating invasive regeneration. The cover crop may or may not be part of the intended long-term plant community for the site, but its primary purpose is to utilize open space and light, making those resources less available to invasive regrowth. The reduced regrowth in turn reduces the amount of investment that is needed to maintain the site.

Cultural Controls

Native Cool Season Grasses Sunflower for Woodland Edges Mints for Dry Forests Snakeroot for Shady Areas

Hand-Weeding a Rain Garden Removing Invasives One by One Hand Loppers when Necessary Precise Control

Manual Control Techniques

In some specific settings, mechanical control, or even hand-weeding, may be effective on its own.

This includes situations where invasive species populations are small enough for a mechanical control approach to be cost effective and successful, or in select areas where invasive species are growing in close proximity with desirable native plant populations.

In such settings, selectively cutting, digging or pulling invasive species at the appropriate time may be a suitable method of control.

Our team can help you determine whether this is a suitable approach for your particular situation.

Targeted Control Techniques

In some specific settings, mechanical control may be effective on its own. This includes situations where invasive species populations are small enough for a mechanical control approach to be cost effective and successful, or in select areas where invasive species are growing in close proximity with desirable native plant populations. In such settings, selectively cutting, digging or pulling invasive species at the appropriate time may be a suitable method of control.