Your Checklist for Preventing Kudzu

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Don't let this happen to your tree.

Credit: Barry Rice, sarracenia.com, Bugwood.org

Avoiding kudzu infestation if you live in a kudzu-affected area is very difficult. But there are steps you can take to help you protect your land:

• Learning to spot it. If you see kudzu’s hairy vines or seedpods or its fragrant purple flowers when out in your woods or on another property, avoid the area. Coming into contact with kudzu vines or seeds increases your risk of spreading the infestation.
• Keeping an eye on it. Stay vigilant and act immediately if you see kudzu growing on your land or anywhere nearby. The vine can grow a foot per day, so there’s no time to waste if you spot it.

Kudzu is a tough adversary for any landowner, so be sure to seek help. Your state, county or consulting foresters, the Forest Service, and your local cooperative extension service can all help you to fight a kudzu infestation or prevent one from starting—and your trees will thank you for it.