Kentucky Highways Battling Infestation of Noxious Invasive Weeds

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The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) has for a long time battled with clearing the highways of a notorious enemy — noxious invasive weeds. 

Weed encroachment of beneficial grasses and plants on roadways can cause both short and long-term problems for Kentuckians and the environment. 

For this reason, every year, the KYTC deploys selective herbicide treatments to control invasive weeds and promote the development of native flora.

The KYTC cleanup crews are tasked with clearing unwanted weeds along state-maintained highways to maintain motorist safety and protect roadway infrastructure.

“Managing invasive and noxious plant life maintains safety and protects the integrity of our road infrastructure.

If left unchecked, this vegetation can reduce visibility, damage drainage systems, and attract wildlife that would otherwise not be in the area,” KYTC Secretary Jim Gray stated in a previous press release. 

List of Noxious Weeds on Kentucky Highways

Here is a list of the invasive plants and nuisance weeds the KYTC typically targets in its spraying operations as per state law and administrative regulations:

  • Amur Honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii)
  • Canada Thistle (Cirsium arvense)
  • Common Teasel (Dipsacus fullonum)
  • Cutleaf Teasel (Dipsacus laciniatus)
  • Japanese Knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum)
  • Johnson Grass (Sorghum halepense)
  • Kudzu (Pueraria montana)
  • Marestail (Conyza canadensis)
  • Multiflora Rose (Rosa multiflora) 
  • Nodding Thistle (Carduus nutans)
  • Poison Hemlock (Conium maculatum)
  • Spotted Knapweed (Centaurea stoebe)
Cleanup crew spraying herbicide on weeds
Cleanup crew spraying herbicide on weeds. Image: msuextension.org

Some weeds like Canada Thistle overtake and destroy the native turf grass, leaving the roadside areas vulnerable to erosion.

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The Amur Honeysuckle, a white-tailed deer’s favorite, can grow up to 20 feet long, obstructing highway lanes and reducing visibility.

Aggressive weeds like the Kudzu can impede the growth of native plants through rapid reproduction and prolonged persistence. 

Is Your Property Near A State-Maintained Highway?

For the best weed control outcome, the KYTC also urges Kentuckians with land adjacent to state-maintained highways to write a formal request at their local KYTC highway district office.

This allows the crews to treat the noxious weeds on their property.