Integrated Weed Management
The Integrated Weed Control Project promotes the use of integrated weed management methods, including biological control, throughout Washington State at no cost to landowners and land managers. We focus on biological control specifically, but biological control is not appropriate for all weeds in all situations. It is just one of several weed management methods that make up an effective, integrated weed management strategy.
Integrated Weed Management, or IWM, is a strategy for long-term weed suppression. It is not a silver bullet, but rather a decision-making process that is done on a site by site basis, is done continuously and is altered as conditions change. IWM is ecologically based; weed management decisions are made based on a number of factors including infestation levels, patch size, terrain/ease of access, biological life stage of the weed, age of infestation, desired speed and level of control, and weed management tools available. In most cases a combination of weed suppression tools or methods is more effective than a single method used alone.
Weed management methods:
Mechanical control - includes physical control methods such as tilling, hand pulling, burning, mowing, and mulching. These methods can be appropriate for very small infestations and cultivated areas. Mechanical control is often not appropriate or possible for natural areas and rangeland. A Weed Wrench ™ (pictured) can be an effective mechanical control tool for removing woody, tap-rooted weeds such as Scotch broom. Weed Wrenches are available to borrow from some county weed programs. Contact your county or contact us for more information.- Cultural control - decreases the suitability of the environment to weeds establishing and spreading. Cultural control includes fertilization to help surrounding vegetation compete with the weed, and revegetation. Revegetating a site with a competitive, desirable species can be quite effective at reducing weed infestation levels.
- Chemical control - includes both selective and non-selective herbicide. Chemical control is an important tool in IWM, but like all tools it is appropriate and effective in some situations and not others. Chemical control is often not the best choice for very large infestations due to the prohibitive cost but can be quite effective against small, new infestations. Chemicals should only be applied at the rates and for the site conditions and land use specified on the label. Follow all label directions.
- Biological control - includes grazing, insect feeding, and pathogen damage. Often biological control is most appropriate on large, established weed infestations where short term control or eradication is not the expected outcome. For additional information about insects for particular weeds please see the Biological Control Agents pages.
Regardless of which weed suppression tools are used, prevention should be a part of every IWM strategy. It is always less expensive and less damaging to the ecosystem to prevent infestations than to manage them after they establish. Steps for prevention include: making sure weed seeds are not carried in contaminated crop seed, manure, feed or machinery; preventing existing weeds from going to seed; controlling weeds along fence lines and roadways; and removing weed fragments from machinery and boats. Periodic surveys for newly invading weeds are also an important part of prevention.
If you would like more information about IWM or would like assistance creating a IWM strategy to manage your weed infestation, please contact your county weed control program or contact us.
Updated 6-4-09
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