Most important of all is simply being aware of the threat posed by invasive plants and knowing how to avoid contributing to their spread. Follow the advice set out by the national Be Plant Wise campaign:
- Know What You Grow
Making sure you choose the right kind of plants for your pond or garden is essential; there are plenty of choices of native oxygenating plants for ponds for example. If you do discover an invasive plant already on your land, it’s important to tackle it swiftly; this might mean hand-pulling and composting for some plants, others may need spraying by experts. - Check, Clean, Dry
Anglers, boat-owners and river users can all help to stop the spread of invasive aquatic species (fauna as well as flora) by making sure to check, clean and dry their clothing and equipment. - Compost with Care
Making sure you dispose of non-native invasive plants correctly will help stop them from spreading – dumping of these plants is an offence.
For more details on all the above visit DEFRA’s Be Plant Wise campaign