Invasive species aren’t only a matter of aesthetics; they also threaten the health of local ecosystems. This non-native living organism—whether a plant or animal—can outcompete those inherent to an environment, disrupt their habitats, and cause irreparable damage. In this guide, we’ll explore actionable strategies to help you identify and remove invasive species, from invasive plants and vines to woody brush, and show which Fecon equipment fits each job.
Understanding Invasive Species
Before diving into the best ways to remove invasive species, let’s cover what they are and how to spot them on your property. Invasive species are non-native organisms that, when introduced to new environments, thrive due to the absence of natural predators. They can severely impact local ecosystems, reducing biodiversity, altering soil chemistry, and disrupting food chains. Here are a few of the most common types:
- Kudzu (Southeastern U.S.): This fast-growing vine can overtake entire areas, smothering native plants.
- Purple Loosestrife (Northern U.S.): Known for its vibrant flowers, it invades wetlands and outcompetes native flora.
- Japanese Knotweed (East Coast): This perennial plant can damage structures and flood defenses, making it a nuisance for property owners.
- Bush Honeysuckle (Midwest and East): Introduced to the United States for landscaping and erosion control, Asian bush honeysuckles spread rapidly, outcompeting native plants for light and resources and disrupting local ecosystems.
Woody Invasive Brush: The Species That Usually Need a Machine
Vines and wetland plants get most of the attention, but on farms, woodlots and rural properties the bigger problem is usually woody invasive brush. These shrubs and small trees leaf out early, form thickets that shade out native plants, and resprout when they are cut. Invasive brush removal on this kind of growth usually takes a machine for the first pass and a follow-up plan after it. Along with the bush honeysuckle above, these are the species landowners ask us about most:
- Common and glossy buckthorn (Midwest, Northeast): Forms thick stands in woods and along fence lines. Like bush honeysuckle, it stays green into late fall after native shrubs drop their leaves, which makes it easy to spot. Buckthorn removal almost always needs stump treatment or repeat cutting, because cut stems sprout back.
- Autumn olive (East and central U.S.): A fast-growing shrub that spreads along field edges and pastures and sprouts back hard when it is cut.
- Multiflora rose (East and Midwest): Thorny, arching canes that build impassable thickets in pastures and field edges. Pulling it by hand is slow and painful, so a brush cutter or mulcher is the practical first step.
- Chinese privet (Southeast): Takes over stream banks and forest edges and resprouts after cutting.
- Tree of heaven (nationwide): Do not start by cutting it down. Cutting triggers root suckers that can come up as far as 50 feet from the parent tree, so it needs an herbicide treatment first (see the FAQ below).
- Callery pear, the wild offspring of Bradford pear (East and South): Seedlings grow into thorny thickets along roadsides and old fields and resprout when cut.
Check your state’s invasive species list before you start, because what counts as invasive changes from region to region.
Identifying Invasive Species on Your Property
So, what exactly should you look for when identifying invasive species?
- Rapid Growth: Many invasive species grow more quickly than natives, forming dense thickets or mats.
- Distinctive Features: You can often identify invasive species by their leaves, flowers, and growth habits.
- Ecosystem Changes: Notice if some regions of your property are becoming less biodiverse or if native plants struggle to thrive.
A thorough inventory of your landscape can help pinpoint invasive species early, preventing larger infestations.
Effective Invasive Species Removal Strategies
Once you’ve identified invasive species on your property, it’s time to act. Let’s focus on the best invasive species removal methods. The right one depends on the size of your property, the size of the stems, and how much material you need to clear or dispose of:
Manual Removal
Manual removal can be effective for smaller infestations. Simple hand tools can do a great deal of good to pull out invasive plants, especially seedlings and young shrubs. Just make sure you remove the entire root system to prevent regrowth.
Chemical Treatments
Herbicides can be effective for larger infestations but use with caution. Always follow local regulations and guidelines, and consider the potential impact on surrounding wildlife and native plants.
Biological Control
This method involves using natural predators or pathogens to manage invasive species. While it can be effective, it requires careful consideration to avoid unintended consequences on the ecosystem.
Mechanical Removal with Fecon Mulchers
Mechanical removal, the method that uses tools and machines to control invasive species, is the practical choice for extensive or woody infestations. It ranges from a brush cutter on a mini skid steer to a mulching head on an excavator or a dedicated mulching tractor. Fecon mulchers grind invasive plants into mulch in a single pass, so there is no brush pile to haul or burn, and the mulch layer returns organic matter to the soil and slows new seedlings. Mulching does not kill the roots on its own, so plan the follow-up covered below.
Match the Machine to the Infestation
For invasive overgrowth clearing, the right machine comes down to three things: the diameter of the stems, the size of the area, and whether the cut material can stay on site. Use this table as a starting point, then confirm the fit for your carrier with a Fecon dealer.
| What you are clearing | Stem size | Machine | Why it fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| A few garden plants | Under 1 in | Hand tools, loppers, weed wrench | Pulls the whole root, no machine needed. |
| Fence lines, trails, around buildings | Up to 4 in | Mini skid steer brush cutter (BC44) | Fits tight access, small acreage. |
| Pastures and field edges | Up to 6 in | Skid steer brush cutter (BC60/BC74) | Cuts fast, material stays on ground. |
| Dense buckthorn, honeysuckle, autumn olive | Up to 5-6 in, 8 in occasionally | Bull Hog standard flow or high flow head | Cuts and grinds in one pass. |
| Slopes, ditches, creek banks | Up to 8 in | 12-20 ton excavator head | Reaches from stable ground. |
| Large acreage restoration | 8 in and up | Fecon FTX150-2 | Production speed, heavier timber. |
| Material that must leave the site | Any | Skid steer brush grapple (BG84/BG48) | Open tines, haul only the brush. |
| Stumps left behind | Any | Stump grinder attachment | Takes stumps below grade. |
A brush cutter and a forestry mulcher are not the same tool. A brush cutter cuts the material and drops it, while a mulcher cuts it and grinds it into chips. If you are not sure which half of the job you need, read our breakdown of a brush cutter vs. brush grapple, or see how to choose the right forestry mulcher.
Using Fecon Mulchers for Invasive Species Control
We designed Fecon Bull Hog mulchers specifically for challenging terrain and heavy-duty applications. Their benefits include:
- Efficiency: Mulchers can clear large areas in a fraction of the time it would take using manual methods.
- Forestry Mulching: One machine cuts, grinds and spreads the material in a single pass, which is why forestry mulching is the method most contractors reach for first. See the full list of benefits of forestry mulching.
- Soil Health: The mulch created from ground-up invasive plants returns organic matter to the soil, improving conditions for native plants.
- Reduced Regrowth: Fecon mulchers cut stems down to ground level and leave a layer of mulch that shades the soil, which slows new seedlings. Stumps and roots of resprouting species still need the follow-up below, so plan for it from day one.
- Selective Clearing: An operator can take out a wall of buckthorn or honeysuckle and leave the native oak or hickory a few feet away standing, which is hard to do with a dozer.
When to Clear Invasive Plants
Timing decides whether one clearing pass sticks or has to be repeated. These rules cover most woody invasives:
- Before seeds ripen. Cutting or mulching a plant after it sets seed spreads that seed across the site and onto your equipment. Clear before flowering or fruiting wherever the schedule allows.
- Late fall and winter for heavy clearing. With the leaves down, operators can see what they are cutting, and frozen or dry ground limits rutting. Buckthorn and bush honeysuckle hold green leaves after most native shrubs drop theirs, which makes late fall a good time to find them.
- Late summer and fall for herbicide follow-up. Penn State Extension notes that cut-stump treatments work best in late summer and fall and should be avoided in spring, when sap is moving up the stem.
- Around nesting season. Many state wildlife agencies ask landowners to avoid heavy clearing in spring and early summer, when birds are nesting. Check your state’s guidance before you schedule the work.
Follow-Up: Stopping Regrowth After Clearing
Clearing is the first step, not the last. Forestry mulching removes everything above ground, but many woody invasives grow back from the stump or the roots. NC State Extension lists privet, autumn olive, bush honeysuckle and multiflora rose among the shrubs that resprout, along with vines such as kudzu and Oriental bittersweet. Plan on at least one to two years of follow-up.
- Treat stumps on larger stems. On stems you cut rather than mulch, a cut-stump herbicide treatment stops most resprouts. With water-soluble products, apply right after cutting and cover the outer ring of wood just inside the bark. Always follow the product label and your state’s rules, and use a licensed applicator where one is required.
- Re-mulch or spot-treat resprouts the next season. Expect new shoots within the first growing season. A second mulching pass or a targeted herbicide treatment knocks them back before they become brush again.
- Replant with natives. Bare ground invites the next invasion. Seed or plant native grasses, shrubs or trees so something you want takes the space.
- Handle seed-bearing material carefully. If brush has to leave the site, do not move seed-heavy material onto clean ground. Mulch it in place where you can, or use a brush grapple to load it straight into a truck.
Preventing Future Invasions
Once you’ve managed existing invasive species, the goal is to ensure they don’t return. Here’s how:
- Regular Monitoring: Schedule regular property inspections to catch new invasions early, while invasive plant removal is still a hand-pulling job instead of a machine job.
- Native Plant Restoration: Consider replanting native species to outcompete potential invasive ones.
- Educate Yourself and Neighbors: Share knowledge about invasive species and their impacts. Community awareness can lead to collective action and more effective management.
- Clean Equipment Between Sites: Seeds and root fragments ride on tracks, tires and mulching heads. Blow down or wash equipment before you move it to a new property.
By implementing these practices, you’ll create a healthier ecosystem that supports local biodiversity and enhances the value of your property.
Remove Invasive Species With Help From Fecon
By understanding the threats invasive species pose, identifying them early, and matching the right removal method and machine to the job, you can protect your land and help native plants recover. Fecon builds invasive species solutions for every scale of job. For the full lineup of invasive species removal equipment, from mini skid steer brush cutters to excavator mulching heads, visit our invasive species page or find a Fecon dealer near you. Have more questions about invasive species? Contact us anytime. We’re always here to help.
