This guide is written and designed to help you identify, remove and replace noxious weeds and invasive species in your landscaping.
Table of Contents
A. Definitions
B. Recommend Removal Practices
C. Suggested Non-Invasive Plants Chart
D. Complete Lists of Noxious Weeds, and Invasive Species
A. Definitions
Noxious Weeds: Defined by ORC 901:5-37-01 and by the Federal Plant Protection act as “any plant or plant product that can directly or indirectly injure or cause damage to crops (including nursery stock or plant products), livestock, poultry or other interests of agriculture, irrigation, navigation, the natural resources of the United States, the public health, or the environment.”
Invasive Plant Species: Defined by the USDA as “a plant that is both non-native and able to establish on many sites, grow quickly, and spread to the point of disrupting plant communities or ecosystems.” This is further defined by the Ohio Nursery Landscape Association as “plant species that are not native to Ohio whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm, or harm to human health as determined by scientific studies.”
B. Recommended Removal Practices
To protect the health and safety of its citizens, particularly its children, and our natural resources and wildlife, the Village of Yellow Springs has placed a moratorium on the use of pesticides and herbicides on all Village owned land.
The following examples demonstrate a few ways in which mechanical removal of noxious weeds and invasive species can be achieved. Having the right tools and understanding of the nature of the plant and its life cycle is foundational to successful management.
It is understood that there will be a vast range of scale and quantity of vegetation that individual residents will be confronted with. This appendix serves as an introduction and a starting point for the education of Yellow Springs residents on this topic.
The hope is that by stepping back and understanding how a system works we will become more adept at tackling the problem before reaching for the toxic synthetic chemicals as the first line of attack. By planting beneficial plants we create habitat that supports our native wildlife.
For additional information and to learn more about environmentally safe ways for mitigating invasive species and noxious weeds please contact the Village Offices. In addition we have helpful resources to share with residents on recommendations for native plants that can be used in their back yards.
(Illustrations by Keith Kresge)
HONEYSUCKLE POPPER
A strong and simple leverage tool to use for the removal of undesirable bushes and shrubs up to 12-15 years old. Slide the steel tip under the roots and lift the shrub out.
(eg: Honeysuckle, Barberry, Russian Olive, Burning Bush, etc)
JAPANESE PRUNING SAW
Can be used to saw shrubs, smaller invasive trees to the ground. With this technique new shoots will form as the plant needs leaves to photosynthesize in order to survive. By keeping vigilant and continuing to remove these shoots you are disturbing a natural growth cycle and eventually the plant being unable to photosynthesize will die.
HORI-HORI aka SOIL KNIFE
An indispensable tool for weeding and planting. Most weeds can be pulled out of the ground especially when the soil is wet. For those roots that may be a bit more stubborn you can use this as a leverage to help lift the roots up out of the ground. For example to remove Common Ragweed, Poison Hemlock, Dame’s Rocket, Porcelain Berry Vine (when young), Purple Loosestrife etc. This technique is only weeds that do not have the propensity to form new plants from little segments of root left in the ground (eg: Canada Thistle which is addressed in the next illustration.
PRUNING SHEARS
This tool is great for cutting back the new shoots that emerge from previously sawn stumps (page 3). (For larger shoots use a Pruning Lopper Page 6)
Pruning Shears can be used on colonies of Canada Thistle that pop up in your flower beds and prevent remnants of the weed’s roots from forming new plants.
Allow the Canada Thistle to grow up in spring until they are large but not yet flowering then take your shears and snip the thistle right at its base. Allow the second round of growth and repeat the same. By breaking a plants life cycle the plant will become weaker and eventually die. For large expanses you can of course use a mower to reclaim an area for future planting.
PRUNING LOPPER
For larger shoots.
DUTCH GARDEN HOE
Many noxious weeds eg: Common Ragweed can be eliminated early on through regular hoeing. This tool is really handy for working in between plantings. The weeds are decapitated and can be left as mulch to dry out in the sun. It makes quick work of weeding and is easy on the knees as you operate this tool while standing.
WHEN IN DOUBT
Call in an expert. Understanding when a task may be too big and or dangerous to deal with yourself. For example mature trees of Ailanthus, Callery Pear and Norway Maple. In addition it is important to consider a gradual replacement plan to bring in beneficial native species and/or a sustainable way to prevent further invasives and noxious weeds from taking hold.
C. Suggested Non-Invasive Plants Chart
Invasive Species | Suggested Native Replacement |
Invasive Species | Suggested Native Replacement |
Tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima)  | American Hop-hornbeam (Ostrya virginiana):  |
Cucumber tree magnolia (Magnolia acuminate):  | |
Pecan (Carya illinoinesis):  | |
Callery Pear (Pyrus calleryana)  | Serviceberries (Amelanchier spp.)  |
Black tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica)  | |
Willow oak (Quercus phellos)  | |
Asian Bush Honeysuckles Amur (Lonicera maackii):  | Bottlebrush Buckeye (Aesculus parviflora):  |
Morrow (Lonicera morrowii):  | Black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa)  |
Tatarian (Lonicera tatarica):  | Summersweet Clethra (Clethra alnifolia)  |
Common winterberry (Ilex verticillata)  | |
Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbellate)  | Silky Dogwood (Cornus amomum)  |
Russian Olives (Elaeagnus angustifolia)  | Gray Dogwood (Cornus racemosa)  |
American hop-hornbeam (Ostrya virginiana)  | |
Glossy Buckthorn (Frangula Alnus or Rhamnus frangula)   | Summersweet Clethra (Clethra alnifola)  |
Common Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica)  | Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)  |
Common Winterberry (Ilex verticillata)  | |
Cutleaf Elderberry (Sambucus Canadensis ‘Laciniata/Acutiloba’)  | |
Black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa)  | |
Gray Dogwood (Cornus racemosa)  | |
Bush honeysuckles (Diervilla spp.)  | |
Common witch-hazel (Hamamelis virginiana)  | |
Japanese Barberry (Berberis thunbergii)  | Fothergilla (Fothergilla spp.)  |
Lemon Lace Elderberry (Sambucus racemose)  | |
Tor birchleaf spirea (Spiraea betulifolia ‘Tor’)  | |
Sweetshrub (Calycanthus floridus)  | |
Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica)  | Crossvine (Bignonia capreolata)  |
Woodbine Honeysuckle (Lonicera periclymenum)  | |
Trumpet Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens)  | |
Oriental Bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus)  | Wooly Pipevine (Aristolochia tomentosa)  |
Winter Gold winterberry (Ilex verticillata)  | |
Trumpet Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) | |
Wintercreeper (Euonymus fortunei)  | Allegheny pachysandra (Pachysandra procumbens)  |
Canadian wild-ginger (Asarum canadense)  | |
Gro-low fragrant sumac (Rhus aromatica 'Gro-low')  | |
Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)  | Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)  |
Spiked blazing-star (Liatris spicata)  | |
Carolina phlox (Phlox carolina)  | |
Chinese Silver Grass (Miscanthus sinensis)  | Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii)  |
Switch grass (Panicum virgatum)  | |
Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans)  | |
D. Complete lists of Noxious Weeds and Invasive Species
Noxious Weeds that have been identified by the Ohio Department of Agriculture:
14. Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Common Ragweed
15. Ambrosia trifida, Giant Ragweed (also known locally as Horseweed)
16. Cirsium arvense, Canada Thistle
17. Toxicodendron radicans, Poison Ivy
18. Lythrum salicaria, Purple Loosestrife
19. Ailanthus altissima, Tree of Heaven
20. Ficaria verna, Lesser Celandine
21. Polygonum cuspidatum, Japanese Knotweed
22. Sorghum bicolor, Shatter Cane
23. Salsola Kali var. tenuifolia, Russian Thistle
24. Sorghum halepense, Johnsongrass
25. Pastinaca sativa, Wild Parsnip
26. Vitis spp., Grapevines (when growing in groups of one hundred or more and not pruned, sprayed, cultivated, or otherwise maintained for two consecutive years)
27. Conium maculatum, Poison Hemlock
28. Senecio glabellus, Cressleaf Groundsel
29. Carduus nutans, Musk Thistle
30. Polygonum perfoliatum, Mile-A-Minute Weed
31. Heracleum mantegazzianum, Giant Hogweed
32. Nicandra physalodes, Apple of Peru
33. Conyza Canadensis, Marestail
34. Bassia scoparia, Kochia
35. Amaranthus palmeri, Palmer Amaranth
36. Pueraria montana var. lobata, Kudzu
37. Phyllostachys aureasculata, Yellow Groove Bamboo, (when the plant has spread from its original premise of planting and is not being maintained.)
38. Convolvulus arvensis, Field Bindweed
39. Lepidium draba sub. draba, Heart-Podded Hoary Cress
40. Lepidium appelianum, Hairy Whitetop or Ballcress
41. Sonchus arvensis, Perennial Sowthistle
42. Acroptilon repens, Russian Knapweed
43. Euphorbia esula, Leafy Spurge
44. Calystegia sepium, Hedge Bindweed
45. Sorghum x almum, Columbus Grass
46. Bassia prostrata, Forage Kochia
47. Amaranthus tuberculatus, Water Hemp
48. Nassella trichotoma, Serrated Tussock
Invasive Species that have been identified by the Ohio Department of Agriculture:
20. Ailanthus altissima, Tree-Of-Heaven
21. Berberis vulgaris, Common Barberry
22. Butomus umbellatus, Flowering Rush
23. Centaurea stoebe ssp. Micranthos, spotted Knapweed
24. Dipsacus laciniatus, Cutleaf Teasel
25. Egeria densa, Brazilian Elodea
26. Euonymous elata, Burning Bush
27. Epilobium hirsutum, Hairy Willow Herb
28. Frangula alnus, Glossy Buckthorn
29. Heracleum mantegazzianum, Giant Hogweed
30. Hesperis matronalis, Dame's Rocket
31. Hydrilla verticillata, Hydrilla
32. Hydrocharis morsus-ranae, European Frog-Bit
33. Lythrum salicaria, Purple Loosestrife
34. Lythrum virgatum, European Wand Loosestrife
35. Microstegium vimineum, Japanese Stiltgrass
36. Myriophyllum aquaticum, Parrotfeather
37. Nymphoides peltata, Yellow Floating Heart
38. Potamogeton crispus, Curly-Leaved Pondweed
39. Pueraria montana var. lobate, Kudzu
40. Pyrus calleryana, Callery Pear
41. Ranunculus ficaria, Fig Buttercup/Lesser Celandine
42. Trapa natans, Water Chestnut
43. Typha angustifolia, Narrow-Leaved Cattail
44. Typha x glauca, Hybrid Cattail
45. Vincetoxicum nigrum, Black Dog-Strangling Vine, Black Swallowwort
46. Ampelopsis bervipendulata, Porcelain Berry Vine
47. Lonicera maackii, L. tatarica, L. morrowii, Bush Honeysuckles
48. Euonymus fortunei, Wintercreeper
49. Lonicera japonica, Japanese Honeysuckle
50. Dipsacus fullonum, D. laciniatus, Common & Cut-leaved Teasel
51. Melilotus alba, M. officinalis, White & Yellow Sweet-clovers
52. Elaeagnus umbellata, E. angustifolia, Autumn-Olive, Russian-Olive
53. Rhamnus frangula, R. cathartica, Buckthorns
54. Phragmites australis, Common Reed or Phragmites
55. Phalaris arundinacea, Reed Canary Grass
56. Bromus inermis, Smooth Brome
57. Myriophyllum spicatum, Eurasian Water-milfoil
58. Alliaria petiolata, Garlic Mustard
59. Rosa multiflora, Multiflora Rose
60. Acer platanoides, Norway maple
61. Celastrus orbiculatus, Asian bittersweet
62. Ficaria verna, Lesser Celandine, Fig Buttercup
63. Ligustrum vulgare, Common privet
(Ord. 2021-16. Passed 7-6-21.)