INDIANA- It’s that time of year again: kudzu control season. Throughout August and into September, the DNR Division of Entomology & Plant Pathology staff help coordinate kudzu control throughout the state and monitor kudzu populations. Most of the control work is contracted out, and that work is about to finish for this season.
For those who don’t know, kudzu (Pueraria montana var. lobata) is an invasive woody vine found throughout Indiana (see map below). It is referred to colloquially as “the vine that ate the south,” if you drove through some southern states (e.g., Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, etc.), you’d see why. Kudzu has tremendous growth potential, growing about 1 foot in length per day and some vines reaching lengths of up to 100 feet. Because of its tremendous growth and detriment to Indiana’s natural resources, kudzu has been listed as a prohibited invasive plant under the DNR’s Administrative Code per 312 IAC 18-3-16 Control of kudzu (Pueraria lobata).
While part of the language includes that the landowner “must take efforts to eliminate this species in such a manner as is consistent with federal and state law,” the Division of Entomology & Plant Pathology has been leading a state-funded control program where sites are treated on a rotating, priority basis to eradicate or suppress further spread with no cost to the landowner. Over the last month, around 40 kudzu sites in Indiana have been treated, and we’ve seen some great progress from last year (see photos below).
If you have seen a new kudzu population, please send me that information (photos and GPS coordinates/address) at my email address. A couple of the sites treated this year are new reports from last year that we could address. With your help, we can reduce the impact of this incredibly invasive vine and protect our natural resources.
