Invasive Species

Invasive plant species can disrupt the natural balance of The Woodlands’ forest ecosystem by outcompeting native vegetation, reducing biodiversity, and altering habitat conditions. The Township actively monitors and manages invasive plant growth through targeted removal and control efforts to help protect the health and sustainability of our community’s natural areas.

Invader Species and Brush Control

Residents and visitors of The Woodlands enjoy our community because it feels like being in a natural forest. The Woodlands, however, is not a natural forest in the traditional sense. It is actually a series of small woodlots or buffer strips that provide benefits similar to a forest.

With these small strips of forest, there is an increased edge effect, which promotes invader species, both native and non-native. The adoption of the Integrated Forest Management Plan provides an initiative to remove invasive vines, brush, and non-native species from our forested and open-space areas.

Chinese Tallow Tree

The Chinese tallow tree (Sapium sebiferum) is a non-native species that was introduced from China in the late 1700s. It was initially used as an oil crop and, in more recent years, has been used extensively as an ornamental tree due to its rapid growth and brilliant fall colors.

Chinese tallow tree has the ability to rapidly take over and replace native vegetation. The tree not only grows quickly; it also has the ability to reproduce at three years of age and from cuttings. Seeds can be spread by birds and water, which can lead to outbreaks over large areas. The length of time it takes to deplete the seed bank is unknown, but the seeds may remain viable in the soil for many years. The tree is listed on Texas's noxious weed list and is considered a noxious plant by many states.

Controlling Chinese Tallow Tree Growth
Chinese tallow tree control consists of a few successful methods:

Removal of trees during spring months and treatment of cut stumps with basal systemic herbicide containing active triclopyr.
Removal of trees and treatment of stumps with Brush-B-Gone or Brush Killer herbicides.

Once the trees are removed, residents may replace them with a variety of native species that also grow quickly and have beautiful fall colors, such as:

American Hornbeam
Black Tupelo (Blackgum)
Eastern Hophornbeam
Eastern Redbud
Fringe Tree
Red Maple
River Birch
Silverbell
Winged Elm