Invasive Plant Species Control
Invasive plants can disrupt natural areas like meadows, wetlands, and forests. They also negatively impact agriculture economies and can be harmful to our health. A few Minnesota-specific websites with information about invasive plants, including how to identify and report, are linked below:
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP: The public can help reduce the spread of all invasive plant species by cleaning dirt and vegetation off of mowers, off-road vehicles etc. before and after using them. Avoid driving through or mowing stands of wild parsnip that have gone to seed.
To see more information including known locations or to report a new location of wild parsnip or invasive knotweed, visit the link below. The County uses EDDMaps as part of our treatment planning process.
The County has a contractor spot-spray herbicide to treat targeted invasive species in the county road right-of-way and on select private properties (funding dependent) with owner permission.
The County has an online system residents can use to report invasive species and request assistance treating invasive plants. Unfortunately, the County does not have the resources to treat all noxious weeds in all locations. Because it is particularly difficult for private citizens to eradicate the County assists with treating Invasive Knotweed on private property in St. Louis County, regardless of whether it is associated with county-managed lands.
Residents can report invasives species here: Invasive Plants Reporting Form
- The online form includes the ability to take photos to help confirm that plant identification is correct.
- Depending on the availability of funds, the County will send an e-mail out in the spring of each year to landowners that have indicated they are interested in having Invasive Knotweed on their property treated through the County Program. Landowners will need to follow the instructions in the e-mail to participate in the program. Landowners will need to respond each year if they wish to continue with the program. Treatment for Invasive Knotweed is recommended every other year until the infestation has been addressed.
- Assistance treating wild parsnip and invasive knotweed on private property is dependent on funding and other limitations and is not guaranteed to occur. Even if you submit all the necessary paperwork on time, if the County runs out of funding the treatment may not occur.
The public may take action to control invasive plants in county road right-of-way, without obtaining a ROW/utility permit, provided that the work does not result in large areas of disturbed soil and that herbicides, if used, are used in accordance with label and applicable laws:
- Repeated, frequent mowing is useful to prevent spread of many invasive plants including wild parsnip and spotted knapweed. To be effective mowing should occur while plants are in bloom and must occur before the plants set seed. Mowing knotweed is NOT recommended as it can promote spread to new locations.