Maxine Hunter: How to get rid of invasive species in your backyard

Coming from a rural area that really hasn’t grown much over the past 35 years, I am not accustomed to seeing a lot of invasive species around my home and farm. In fact, there have been almost none! However, we have had two show up, probably dropped by birds or other wildlife, and then there are two additional species that I know have been brought into our neighborhood because the home/ land owner thought they were pretty.

Now, there is a four-lane highway going in just a mile from us that will likely bring in many new invasive plants … and so it begins. This is the case with most areas in Florida; some invasives start with good intention as an ornamental plant or are unknowingly spread by equipment. Regardless of how they start, they are a big and expensive problem in Florida.

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After working in Extension Marion County for the past decade, I have become pretty accustomed to the challenges associated with trying to remove invasives from our yards, parks, roadways, and communities. There are many invasive species to be removed, but this is no easy task. It takes consistent management and monitoring, physical labor and removal of the plant, natural predators, and herbicide applications in most cases.

For specific guidance on the proper procedures to effectively remove invasive plants, please see Integrated Management of Non-Native Plants in Natural Areas of Florida at https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/WG209. Invasives have unique characteristics that make them very challenging to eradicate; they are usually highly adaptable and reproduce quickly.

Asparagus fern

Asparagus aethiopicus is often seed creeping into landscape shrubs and beds. It spreads by bird-dispersed seeds and vegetatively by tubers, which may sprout far from the main plant. Asparagus fern can be found spreading along roadsides and invading secondary forest systems. Colonies displace native vegetation and prevent native species from reestablishing. Asparagus fern is a highly invasive, shade-tolerant perennial plant and is very difficult to control once established due to its extensive root.

Camphor tree

Camphor trees have been in Florida since 1875. It came to Florida from China as an ornamental and for use on plantations for camphor production. In its native range, it is used for oils and timber; however, it was not profitable for growers in Florida. It escaped cultivation and has spread into natural areas. It is frequently seen in residential sites and poses a risk during storms due to the size and height of the tree, as the branches are generally considered brittle.

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Caesar weed

Caesar weed can grow up to 10 feet high. The plant is single-stalked, with free-branching stems that comprise a bushy appearance. It has an attractive flower, grows rapidly and tolerates wet conditions. It invades disturbed areas, pastures, eroded areas, perennial crop plantations, forests and hardwood hammock.

Brazilian pepper

Brazilian pepper is well-known for its bright red berries and glossy serrated leaves. It is an extremely aggressive invasive that shades out other plants — preventing them from growing in the same area — and does not provide good habitat for native wildlife species. Brazilian pepper is in the same family as poison ivy and can cause rashes and respiratory issues for some people.

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Paper mulberry

Paper mulberry is a Japanese native that grows very quickly. It was originally produced in China for paper production. It displaces our native plants through competition and shading and can dominate a site if not monitored. Its shallow root system makes it susceptible to blowing over during high winds, posing a hazard to people and causing slope erosion and further degradation of an area.

Chinese tallow tree

Chinese tallow was introduced to the United States in the 1700s primarily for use as an ornamental tree. It was also introduced for making soap from the seed oil. It is now naturalized in many areas of the U.S., including 50% of Florida counties. It was previously introduced as an ornamental because of its fast growth rate, attractive fall color, and its ability to resist damage from pests. It is a small to medium-sized tree that grows to about 20 feet tall, but some specimens can reach 40-50 feet.

Mimosa tree

This Chinese native has been a popular landscape tree in Florida for many years because of its fragrant pink flowers and feathery, fern-like foliage. If you love the look of mimosa trees but want a non-invasive option, try planting sweet acacia or red bottlebrush. Sweet acacia, Acacia farnesiana, has a similar look to the invasive mimosas, sporting delicate foliage and yellow puffed flowers. Mimosas have large numbers of seed pods containing five or more small brown seeds, which typically persist on the plant though the winter. Seeds, which can remain dormant for years, are normally dispersed in close proximity to the parent plant;

Tropical soda apple

Tropical soda apple, Solanum viarum, was accidentally introduced to Florida in 1985, originating from Brazil and Argentina. This plant has thorns from its roots to the tips of its leaves making it nearly impossible to hand pull. It is on the federal list of noxious weeds and produces small fruits that contain 200-400 seeds each. It is not palatable to livestock and currently infests over 1 million acres of pasture land in Florida. There is a viral biological control agent as well as the tropical soda apple beetle that are currently being evaluated for biological control efficacy.

Cogongrass

Cogongrass is on the list of top 10 weeds in the entire world. It is aggressive and spreads from airborne seeds and very efficient underground rhizomes. It takes advantage of sites disturbed in agricultural, silvicultural, logging and construction activities. It is a master at “relocating” via contaminated logging, forestry, and road construction/maintenance equipment. Once established, cogongrass is extremely difficult to control. Eradication may require three to five years of diligent and costly herbicide treatments.

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Torpedo grass

This is one of the most serious weeds in Florida, it is in the same family as cogongrass and Bermuda grass. It grows in or near shallow waters forming monocultures where it can quickly displace native vegetation. It can also be found in more upland situations and is a frequent problem in sod production. Native to Africa and/or Asia, it was introduced to the United States before 1876, primarily through seed used for forage crops. By 1992, torpedograss had taken over 70% of Florida’s public waters. The largest infestations can be found in Lake Okeechobee, where it displaces close to 7,000 acres of native marsh. Torpedograss management costs approximately $2 million a year in flood control systems. In Florida, torpedograss is also a major problem for the citrus and golf course industries.

There are many invasive species in our area that cost millions of dollar each year in management. Consider helping your local park service by communicating about upcoming projects that might help us remove them from our communities.

Maxine Hunter is the Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension Agent II and Interim Master Gardener Coordinator at the UF/IFAS Extension Marion County. For more information, contact the office, (352) 671-8400. The Extension Service is at 2232 NE Jacksonville Rd. Ocala, FL 34470.

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: 10 most common invasive species in your backyard and how to get rid of them for good!