Manual Controls

Hand-pulling and digging up whole plants, manual control works well for dealing with singular species like trees and shrubs, or small infestations that can be eradicated with a small amount of labour (garlic mustard and water chestnut). Manual Control is most effective with shallow rooted invasive plants where soil is loose or moist. This method may not be effective for invasive species that reproduce by roots and rhizomes (Japanese Knotweed). In that case, hand pulling can sometimes increase an infestation size as little pieces of rhizome left behind go on to propagate new plants. This is why knowing your species and ID are the first step in managing an infestation. APIPP is always available to help guide you. 

Benefits of manual control:

• Can be used in environmentally sensitive areas
• Can be used to manage small patches or individual plants
• Works best in moist, loose soils
• Persistent pulling can control some creeping perennials over time

Limitations of manual control:

• Physically intensive
• Limited to small infestations or singular, shallow rooted plants
• Can propagate rhizome spreading species
• Plants must be pulled before seeds develop
• Must be carried out repeatedly to exhaust soil seed bank