New A&M program could help property owners pay to remove invasive plants

Southeast Texas property owners dealing with invasive trees, vines and other unwanted vegetation could receive help paying for removal under a new Texas A&M Forest Service program. Applications are now open for the Texas Invasive Plant Solutions Cost-Share Program, which will reimburse eligible landowners, organizations and municipalities for 75% of approved invasive plant treatment or removal costs, up to $7,000 per landowner. Texas A&M Forest Service has $140,000 available for the statewide program. Applications will be accepted until the funding runs out. The funding can be used for several types of invasive plant management, including mechanical removal, herbicide treatments and prescribed burning. Mechanical treatment can include mowing, cutting or the use of heavy equipment. Chemical treatments use herbicides to kill or suppress invasive vegetation, while prescribed fire can be used to reduce certain invasive plants and encourage native growth. The appropriate treatment will depend on the species and property. Participants will work with a local Texas A&M Forest Service forester or woodland ecologist to develop a treatment plan and verify the work once it is completed. Personal labor costs are not eligible for reimbursement, and individual items costing more than $5,000 will not qualify. Approved treatment and removal work must be completed before June 1, 2027, to receive reimbursement. More information and applications are available through the Texas A&M Forest Service. 'Invasive plants are non-native plants that can negatively affect the economy, environment or human health,' said Lindsey Stone, Texas A&M Forest Service regional forest health coordinator. 'In forest ecosystems, invasive plants can spread rapidly and compete with native vegetation for resources.' Below is a list of the most common invasive plants found across Southeast Texas: Chinese tallow / popcorn tree - One of the most locally relevant examples. Texas A&M Forest Service says it is mainly found in Southeast Texas, with particularly significant spread documented in Hardin, Jasper and Newton counties. Look for heart-shaped leaves and white 'popcorn' berries. Chinese, glossy and Japanese privet - Evergreen shrubs that can form thick stands and crowd out native plants. They often have white spring flowers followed by dark purple berries. Japanese honeysuckle - A fast-spreading woody vine that can blanket shrubs and trees and form dense mats over native vegetation. Japanese climbing fern - A twining fern found around forests, roadsides and wet areas that can quickly cover large areas. Nandina - Also known as heavenly bamboo, this common ornamental has clusters of bright red berries and can escape landscaped areas into surrounding habitat. Chinaberry - An ornamental tree with lavender flowers and yellow berries; Texas A&M lists it among invasive plants found in East Texas. Chinese wisteria - A woody vine with purple flowers that can spread rapidly and smother trees and shrubs. Mimosa / silk tree - Recognizable by its fernlike leaves and pink flowers; it was introduced as an ornamental and is included on the Forest Service's East Texas invasive list. Finding one of these plants does not automatically mean its removal will qualify for reimbursement; applicants should confirm the species and proposed treatment with the Texas A&M Forest Service before beginning work.