Online Weed Control User Tool Outlines Non-chemical Approaches

­The University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources has created an online Weed Control User Tool to assist the agricultural industry in managing invasive plants. The webpage outlines a variety of available options for situations when herbicides are not allowed or desired.

The webpage includes the following:

• A downloadable manual listing all management techniques
• A tool that allows you to filter management options by plant and site characteristics
• An option to view management techniques based on plant species
• Webpages that outline invasive plant management practices — and the species against which these practices are most effective, including:
  • Biological control
  • Burning
  • Competitive planting
  • Cutting: bladed hand tools
  • Cutting: chainsaw
  • Cutting: pruners, loppers, shears, hand saws
  • Cutting: string trimmers/brush cutters
  • Flaming
  • Girdling
  • Grazing
  • Grubbing: grub hoes
  • Mechanized tillage
  • Mowing/cutting with larger equipment
  • Mulching
  • Scraping: scuffle hoes
  • Severing roots
  • Solarizing
  • Steaming
  • Stump grinding
  • Tarping
  • Whole plant removal with hand tools
  • Whole plant removal with large equipment