CCHIRP has created a “bucketful”of resources to help homeowners remove invasive plant species from their properties.
Each bucket kit includes dabbers, a handsaw, loppers, spray bottle for herbicide mixing (herbicide not included), safety glasses, and disposable gloves. A Calendar of Control (yours to keep!) is also included that details best method of control, herbicide recommendation and application rates, and best season for control.
Anyone in Clark County is eligible to borrow a bucket! Contact the Clark County SWCD office at 812-256-2330, ext. 3, to reserve your bucket. Once checked out, buckets need to be returned clean.
View our Tool Share Release Form
Not sure what kind of invasive species you have on your property?
No problem! Free invasive plant surveys are available! The State of Indiana Cooperative Invasives Management has worked alongside the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service to combat invasive plants and raise public awareness of the devastation caused by these non-native pests. It became clear that the problem of invasives must be addressed at the local level through local people using local resources. To coordinate efforts, SICIM and the NRCS signed an agreement to develop local Cooperative Invasive Species Management Areas throughout Indiana. SICIM then created the Indiana Invasives Initiative (III) project to implement the agreement. Through the III project, a team of 5 Regional Specialists employed by SICIM actively work at the county level with local conservation agencies to develop new CISMAs and provide technical assistance to landowners.
Included in this technical assistance to landowners is free invasive plant surveys. Many landowners have noticed that non-native invasive plant species are overtaking their lands, crowding out native plants, and making it difficult for wildlife to thrive. The good news is that you do not have to face these battles alone. Anyone who owns or manages land will have to deal with these plants. The regional specialist for your area with come to your property and identify invasive plant species, write a brush management plan, and give you information on how to best control the invasive species specific to your property.
Kaila Knies is the Regional Specialist serving Clark, Crawford, Floyd, Gibson, Harrison, Jackson, Lawrence, Orange, Perry, Pike, Posey, Scott, Spencer, Vanderburgh, Washington, and Warrick counties. To book a landowner survey with Kaila, please contact her by email at kaila@sicim.info.
This program made possible by the Indiana Forestry Educational Foundation.
Commonly Used Methods to Control Invasive Plants:
Foliar Spray
This application involves the use of equipment to coat the leaves of target plants with herbicide. Most effective after the plants are fully leafed out until foliage starts to change color in the fall.
Cut Surface
This method is used with woody invasives, and combines the physical removal of the above-ground portions of the target plant, and immediately applying chemical control to the roots. Optimal time for this application is mid-to late-fall, however, it can be done most of the year.
Basal Bark
This treatment is effective for controlling woody vines, shrubs, and trees. Treatments can be made any time of the year except when snow or water prevent spraying the basal parts of the stem.
Hand-pulling
This method involves removing the entire plant, root system and all, from the place in which it is growing. Hand-pulling should be done as soon as plants are large enough to grasp, but before they produce seeds.

