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infestation for proper planning. Finally, annual mapping allows one to monitor and <br />evaluate results of the management plan. <br />After these initial steps are taken it is possible to develop a plan based on the type, size, and <br />location of the weed infestation. Remember to set realistic goals and be prepazed to persist. <br />Noxious weeds are a problem because they are hard to control and even harder to <br />eliminate. Do not expect to eliminate your problem after one treatment or one yeaz, even if <br />the initial results look fantastic. Successful management and eradication plans include <br />several yeazs of follow up work. Do not plan a one time treatment and expect good long <br />term results. The site will need to be monitored and reinventoried each year following the <br />initial inventory and subsequent treatments. <br />All possible control measures which may apply to your situation should be researched and <br />the ones that will not work should be eliminated. It often requires an integrated <br />management approach to achieve success. For instance, it maybe necessary to use a total <br />vegetation control herbicide on a small area followed by reseeding to the desired vegetation. <br />Another example of integrated management is mowing or cultivating in spring or early <br />summer followed by chemical treatment in the fall after regrowth has occurred. Infested <br />areas maybe inaccessible with large equipment and only mechanical or chemical control by <br />hand may be possible. It is important to consider all the alternatives before relying on one <br />or more control measures. <br />Depending on the type of control selected it may be necessary to acquire specialized <br />equipment and materials. This may include tillage equipment, mowers, chemical <br />applicators, or biological control agents. It is a good practice to procure quality equipment <br />that will work properly for extended periods of time since successful plans require follow <br />up treatments. In the case of chemical application equipment it is important to get even, <br />comprehensive coverage at the proven treatment rates. Information on various equipment <br />should be available through local weed district or extension service personnel as well as the <br />Division. <br />The next step is extremely important and involves setting up treatment windows (opportune <br />time periods) based on the control methods chosen and the noxious weeds present. The best <br />time to treat perennial noxious weeds is in the spring or fall during their active growth <br />phase. Different species will have different optimum treatment times even with the same <br />type of control. Perennial weeds usually grow vegetatively in the spring, flower and seed in <br />late spring and eazly stmuner, enter dormancy during the summer and actively grow again <br />in the fall. The treatment windows selected will depend on the species present, geographic <br />location, elevation, and control measures selected. For instance a broadleaf chemical <br />control may be used to control both weed A and weed B which are both in an area you wish <br />to treat. <br />However, the best control may occur on weed A at early vegetative growth which occurs in <br />mid-May and on weed B at full bloom which occurs in mid-June. In order to cut down <br />costs and save time, a one time application could be planned for the spring in late May or <br />early June to provide effective control on both weed types. At higher elevations weeds may <br />-7- <br />