USDA 

... 

a 

United States Department ofAgriculture 

Field Guide for Managing

Saltcedar in the Southwest 

Forest Southwestern 

Service Region TP-R3-16-02 Revised June 2017 
 

 

 

 

Cover Photos 

Upper left: Eric Coombs, Oregon Department of Agriculture, Bugwood.org 

Upper right: USDA 

Bottom: Steve Dewey, Utah State University,Bugwood.org 

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Saltcedar (Tamarix spp.) 

Tamarisk family (Tamaricaceae) 

Saltcedar is an invasive plant common to southwestern 

States and has been listed in New Mexico as a noxious 

weed. This field guide serves as the U.S. Forest Service’s 

recommendations for management of saltcedar in 

woodlands, rangelands, and riparian areas associated with 

its Southwestern Region. The Southwestern Region covers 

Arizona and New Mexico, which together have 11 national 

forests. The Region also administers 4 national grasslands 

located in northeastern New Mexico, western Oklahoma, 

and the Texas panhandle. 

Description 

Saltcedar (synonyms: salt cedar, salt-cedar, tamarix, 

tamarisk) is an invasive plant in the Tamaricaceae that 

worldwide includes 54 species in 4 genera. Saltcedar 

taxonomy is somewhat disputed, and scientific writers use 

nomenclatures that are different from each other. Saltcedar 

and tamarix have been applied as common names for many 

species in the Tamarix genus; however, these terms in the 

southwestern United States usually refer to T. chinensis or 

T. ramosissima. Although these speciescan hybridize, 

many taxonomists consider them to be the same species 

since they are indistinguishable from one another; in which 

case, T. chinensis is the more appropriate taxonomic name. 

Growth Characteristics 

• Perennial, deciduous, small shrub or tree, 5 to 25 feet 

tall; shade intolerant. 

• Rooting system consisting of a root crown; shallow, 

lateral rhizomes; and deep roots that can penetrate to 

a depth of 30 feet or more. 

• Small, scaly, bluish-green, flat leaves resemble 

evergreen “needles.” 

• Reddish-brown branches; smooth, slender, and 

flexible but snap off easily; bark furrowed and ridged 

with age. 

• Flowers March through October; many tiny, pink-towhite flowers with five petals. 

• Extremely small, short-lived seeds resembling pepper; 

seed tips with tufts of hair that aid in wind and animal 

dispersal. 

• Reproduces by seed and sprouting which commonly 

occurs from disturbed root crowns or from stems or 

roots lying near the soil surface. 

Ecology 

Impacts/Threats 

Saltcedar alters the ecology and hydrology of native 

riparian systems and generally diminishes habitat quality; 

however, saltcedar can provide nesting sites for birds and 

may be an important pollen source for honeybees. Leaf 

drop from saltcedar increases soil salinity and lessens 

microbial activity. Evapotranspiration rates for saltcedar 

can be higher than for some native riparian species which 

may reduce stream flows. Soils become drier under dense 

saltcedar stands. However, the presence of several 

defoliating leaf beetle species (Diorhabda spp.) may 

mitigate saltcedar impacts (see the “Biological Control” 

segment below). 

Site/Distribution 

Saltcedar is common along disturbed and undisturbed 

streams, riverbanks, desert springs, flood plains, drainages, 

and irrigation waterways. It is found throughout most of 

the United States except for parts of New England, Middle 

Atlantic States,and the Midwest. 

Spread 

Rapid colonization and expansion of saltcedar most 

commonly occurs with flood events or water inundation. 

Seeds float on water and require damp soil moisture for 

germination and seedling survival. 

Invasive Features 

Saltcedar can reproduce by both seed and sprouting. The 

saltcedar root system is dominated by a root crown that lies 

12 to 18 inches below the soil surface. Buds on the root 

crown and shallow lateral roots will sprout new stems 

rapidly when aerial portions of the plant are removed. 

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Management 

Saltcedar is difficult to eradicate completely; thus, a 

saltcedar control program should be based on the degree 

of control necessary to achieve management objectives. 

Control and restoration of saltcedar infested areas over the 

long term typically requires an integrated management 

approach that involves more than one control method. 

Although aboveground control methods (fire, mowing, 

grazing with goats or other livestock, herbicides, etc.) will 

suppress saltcedar, they will not kill the plant absent the 

complete destruction of the root crown. Therefore, control 

methods that target and destroy the root system are the 

only techniques that provide adequate control of saltcedar. 

These methods are based either on individual plant 

treatment (IPT) or stand treatment. 

The following actions should be considered when 

planning an overall management approach: 

• Maintain healthy plant communities to prevent or 

limit saltcedar infestations. This may involve using 

improved grazing management to prevent excessive 

grazing and reseeding areas with desirable grasses 

and forbs after disturbance. 

• Eradicate new populations of saltcedar as early as 

possible. Combine mechanical, cultural, biological, 

and chemical methods for most effective saltcedar 

control. 

• Implement a monitoring and follow-up treatment 

plan for missed plants and seedlings. 

• Detect, report, and map large infestations. Keep 

annual records of reported infestations. 

Table 1 summarizes some management options for 

common situations involving saltcedar. Further details on 

these management options are explained below. Choice of 

control method(s) depends on many local factors 

including the extent and density of saltcedar infestation, 

current land use, and site conditions (terrain, accessibility, 

microclimate, presence of flora and fauna, etc.). In 

particular, the presence and potential impact of 

Diorhabda leaf beetles on saltcedar should also be 

evaluated. Other important considerations include 

treatment effectiveness, overall cost, and amount of time 

needed to achieve control. More than one control method 

may be needed for a particular site. 

Special Considerations 

Saltcedar potentially serves as nesting habitat for the 

endangered southwestern willow flycatcher (Empidonax 

traillii extimus) which is protected under the Endangered 

Species Act of 1973. To avoid harm to this species, 

information should be obtained from the U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service (Arizona, phone (602) 242-0210; New 

Mexico, phone (505) 248-6920) before implementing 

treatment of saltcedar stands of 0.25 acre or more in 

riparian or wetland areas within Arizona or New Mexico. 

A formal survey for flycatcher nesting habitat by a 

surveyor with a scientific permit may be required for a 

saltcedar site prior to treatment if the nesting status of the 

site is undetermined. 

Within occupied or suitable flycatcher habitat, saltcedar 

treatment operations (including ground or aerial herbicide 

spraying) should not occur during the flycatcher nesting 

period of April 15 to August 30. When flycatcher nesting 

habitat is present, a no-treatment buffer of 0.25 mile is 

necessary around the nest(s). Migratory birds other than 

the flycatcher may also nest in saltcedar from April 

through August, and saltcedar treatment during this 

period should be avoided if possible. 

Physical Control 

Manual Methods 

Digging or hoeing can be used for individual plants in 

small areas. Some commercially available hand tools can 

be used for uprooting small saltcedar plants; however, a 

shovel or hoe is most commonly used. The root crown 

and associated layered roots must be entirely removed 

from the soil. Uprooted material should be stacked into 

piles and dried before burning or mulching. 

Mechanical Methods 

Mechanical methods to treat saltcedar range in scale from 

individual plant excavation (from hand-operated 

equipment to excavators) to broad-scale clearing (from 

tillers to bulldozers). Clearing saltcedar stands with a 

mechanical method often requires repeated applications. 

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Table 1. Management options* 

Site Site Factor Physical Control Cultural 

Control 

Biological 

Control Chemical Control 

Streambanks or 

narrow riparian 

corridors 

Accessibility may be 

limited. 

Excavation, grubbing NA Grazing with 

goats. 

Cut stump method, individual plant 

treatment (IPT) foliage spray, aerial 

application of herbicide by helicopter. 

Flood plains, 

valley bottoms, or 

other flat areas 

Emergent saltcedar 

seedlings on tillable 

land. 

Shallow disking Prolonged 

flooding 

Same as 

above. 

Low volume broadcast spray. 

Sparse to moderate 

stands of young 

saltcedar or regrowth. 

Excavation, grubbing NA Same as 

above. 

IPT or broadcast foliage spray. 

Open saltcedar Mowing, shredding, NA Same as Sub-lethal herbicide application that 

stands; goal is to mulching, scraping, above. defoliates but does not kill the tree. To 

suppress. prescribed burning. prevent developing herbicide 

resistance, avoid repeated applications 

with the same herbicide. 

Open saltcedar Excavation, grubbing, NA Same as Targeted application with a lethal 

stands; goal is to root plowing/raking. above. herbicide. Methods include cut-stump, 

eradicate or provide foliage spray, and aerial herbicide 

high mortality. application. 

Old saltcedar growth 

in dense, uniform 

stands. 

Large-scale clearing 

with root 

plowing/raking. 

NA Same as 

above. 

Aerial herbicide application by 

helicopter or fixed-wing aircraft. 

Wilderness and 

other natural or 

protected areas 

Use of mechanical 

equipment may be 

restricted. 

Hand removal or 

selective mechanical 

removal if allowed. 

NA Same as 

above. 

Cut stump method, IPT foliage spray, 

aerial herbicide application if 

allowed. 

* Choice of a particular management option must be in compliance with existing regulations for the land resource. 

Grubbing with a tractor-mounted implement is 

particularly useful for control of scattered individual trees. 

A grubbing tool mounted on a tractor’s hydraulic system 

drives a blade into the soil to sever roots below the root 

crown and force the root crown onto the surface. To 

prevent re-rooting, grubbed saltcedar should be piled, 

dried, and then burned or mulched rather than left on the 

surface. 

Excavating can be used to remove individual trees 

selectively. Operators of excavating equipment must be 

skilled in placing the extracting bucket beneath the root 

crown of the target plant and grasping the tree with an 

opposing hydraulic arm so that it can be pulled directly 

upward in a vertical motion. Extracting the tree vertically 

rather than sideways minimizes excessive breakage of the 

root material at or near the ground surface. 

Mulching and excavating can be used in combination by 

first eliminating top growth of saltcedar through mulching 

and then using excavation to destroy the remaining root 

system. Mulching by itself may be used to reduce fuel 

loading for fires by clearing significant acreage of 

saltcedar in a relatively short period of time. Mulching 

requires mobile, high horsepower machinery to operate a 

high speed rotating drum equipped with cutting teeth. The 

mulching equipment shreds saltcedar top growth to ground 

level and simultaneously grinds it into fine segments. 

Mulching operations leave the roots intact; therefore, 

saltcedar will re-sprout when growth conditions become 

favorable. The sprouts will typically reach 2 to 5 feet in 

height within the first or second season after mulching. A 

track-mounted excavator may be used to remove the 

remaining live root crowns and layered roots as indicated 

by re-sprouting. 

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Root plowing and raking is a combined mechanical 

treatment designed to clear large, mature saltcedar stands 

on relatively level areas. A two-phase approach is 

generally followed. In the first phase, aerial trunks and 

stems are cut at the soil surface and piled using a D-7 or 

D-8 class bulldozer equipped with a front mounted brush 

blade. An articulated loader equipped with a brush rake 

working in tandem with a bulldozer may be used to 

facilitate piling. Piles should be allowed to dry for a month 

or longer prior to burning. The work may be accomplished 

during winter months to avoid overheating of equipment 

and summer nesting of birds. The second phase of control 

should occur during hot and dry summer months (usually 

May and June) when root material will dry out after 

removal from the soil. A 12-foot wide root plow pulled by 

a bulldozer (e.g., D-7 class) can be used to sever the root 

crown from the remaining root system about 12 to 18 

inches below the soil surface depending on the maturity of 

the saltcedar stand. Root material near the soil surface can 

then be raked by a bulldozer (e.g., D-8 class) equipped 

with a 21-foot wide hydraulic root rake containing teeth 

that are 4 feet in length and are spaced 15 inches apart. 

The material can then be windrowed and piled using an 

articulated loader. The piles are subsequently burned. 

Prescribed Fire 

Prescribed fire as a single control method is not 

recommended for long-term saltcedar management since 

saltcedar is fire-adapted and regrows rapidly. Natural or 

prescribed fires in mature or decadent stands of saltcedar 

are hazardous as flame lengths in these fires can be 

extremely high and crown fires can be difficult to stop 

with standard firefighting methods. However, burning may 

be useful or necessary to remove brush piles or any dead 

saltcedar left standing after herbicide spraying. 

Cultural Control 

Education and monitoring can be important components to 

saltcedar control. Some nurseries still stock saltcedar as a 

decorative plant which could serve as sources of escaped 

stock in non-invaded areas. 

Biological Control 

Grazing 

Livestock will browse saltcedar, but the foliage has little 

nutritional value and is usually not preferred. Grazing with 

goats may be used to suppress re-sprouting after other 

treatments have been made. 

Classical Biological Control 

In the early 2000s, the Mediterranean tamarisk beetle 

(Diorhabda elongata) and several allied Diorhabda 

species were released in the southwestern U.S. as hostspecific biocontrol agents for saltcedar. Both adult beetles 

and larvae consume the foliage of saltcedar, which can 

injure or kill the plant over several years. Individual 

Diorhabda species have different biotic requirements for 

climate and day length that limit their range. 

Two weevil species, Coniatus splendidulus and C. 

tamarisci, also feed on saltcedar. C. splendidulus became 

established across the southwestern U.S. after its 2006 

release in Arizona, although this release was never 

approved (or even considered). C. tamarisci was approved 

for release but has not gotten past the cage-testing phase. 

Tamarisk beetle expansion from the original release sites 

threatens to impact the endangered southwestern willow 

flycatcher, which nests in saltcedar-dominated areas that 

have replaced native willow communities. Species of 

Diorhabda beetles have moved into Arizona and New 

Mexico from nearby States, and this advancing migration 

could impair flycatcher nesting habitat. 

Although APHIS suspended further releases of Diorhabda 

species for a time shortly after their initial release, the 

agency has since delegated responsibility for beetle release 

to the States. A State’s Dept. of Agriculture can approve a 

release within the State if certain conditions are met (e.g., 

no release within 200 miles of a known willow flycatcher 

nest). Therefore, the State’s Dept. of Agriculture should be 

consulted for any regulations relating to release or 

movement of Diorhabda beetles within the State. 

Chemical Control 

Herbicides are a primary method of saltcedar control and 

can be applied in a number of ways including helicopter 

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and fixed-wing aircraft, tractor, truck or ATV-mounted 

boom sprayers, power sprayers, backpack sprayers, and 

carpet rollers. Any equipment used to spray herbicide 

should be calibrated. Treatment success depends on care 

taken during herbicide application. Most compounds 

available for saltcedar control (see table 2) have postemergence activity and provide limited pre-emergence 

control. Aquatically approved herbicide formulations and 

surfactants must be used in or near water. 

Herbicide Application 

IPT basal bark treatment can be made on individual 

saltcedar plants by using herbicide mixed with oil in a 

backpack sprayer that is fitted with an adjustable nozzle 

(X0 to X1 orifice size) to deliver a mist spray from the 

base of the stem up to 6 inches above the ground. 

Triclopyr ester herbicide mixed with crop oil in a 50:50 

v/v (volume to volume) ratio is an effective mixture. 

Imazapyr with crop oil may also be used for this 

application. Although basal bark treatment provides fair 

control, it is very tedious and time consuming, especially 

when the saltcedar is multi-stemmed. Applications on 

older stems with thick, furrowed bark should be avoided 

since success may be limited. Basal bark treatments are 

more easily made in winter when foliage is shed; 

however, summer treatment is recommended in Texas. 

IPT cut stump treatment is often used in areas where 

mechanical treatments or foliar applied herbicide spraying 

are restricted due to logistical considerations or when 

there is a need to be highly selective and protect nontarget vegetation. The treatment involves hand cutting or 

chain sawing the saltcedar trunk or stems as close to the 

ground surface as reasonable, and then applying herbicide 

to the cut stump surface by paintbrush, hand-held spray 

bottle, or backpack sprayer. The cut surface should be 

horizontal to the ground to minimize runoff, and any 

residual sawdust over the cut surface should be removed 

prior to herbicide application. A solution of triclopyr ester 

or imazapyrmixed with bark or crop oil must be applied 

immediately within 15 minutes. The herbicide:oil mixture 

ratio can vary from 33:67 to 50:50 v/v depending on the 

number and size of plants to be treated and the application 

technique used. Lower ratios (e.g., 33:67) are typically 

used when applications are made with a low volume 

backpack sprayer or hand-held spray bottle, whereas 

higher ratios (e.g., 50:50) are used when the solution is 

brushed directly onto the cut stump. Cut surfaces of plants 

with less than 4 inches diameter must be thoroughly 

wetted with herbicide to kill the roots; however, the 

herbicide should be applied to the cambial layer just inside 

the bark ring if the diameter of the saltcedar stump 

exceeds 4 inches. A blue indicator dye should be added to 

the spray mixture to show prior treatment of stumps. 

Disposal of trunks, limbs, and other top growth should 

follow acceptable practices (e.g., stack piles or chips). 

Mortality rates from cut-stump treatments are directly 

related to care taken when treating cut surfaces. Control 

can be 60 to 80 percent under optimal conditions, but 

plant kills may be less than 40 percent due to difficulties 

associated with this method. Therefore, anticipate using 

follow-up treatment with ground-based foliar applications. 

IPT foliar spray may be used to control small saltcedar 

plants that are less than 5 feet in height and are relatively 

small in acreage. Saltcedar foliage should be completely 

covered, and the terminal ends of all branches (including 

blooms) should be wetted without allowing dripping to 

occur. The interior of the plant should then be laced with 

the spray solution to complete the treatment. Ground 

application of 1 percent imazapyr solution by volume to 

saltcedar foliage can be made with a variety of spraying 

equipment such as hand-held pump-up or backpack 

sprayers, tractor-towed tank sprayers, or ATV-mounted 

low and high powered sprayer systems. An adjustable 

cone nozzle (X6 to X8 orifice size) can be used to deliver 

a coarse spray (large droplets). A nonionic surfactant 

(0.25 percent by volume) and a blue indicator spray dye 

should be added to the mixture. Since absorption of 

herbicide into the foliage is relatively slow, chemical 

penetration into the plant should be increased by spraying 

during weather conditions of low wind, high relative 

humidity, and low air temperature. After treatment, the 

top growth should remain undisturbed for at least 2 years. 

Although plants may appear dead (i.e., completely 

defoliated) in the first growing season after spraying, they 

will still try to grow. If top growth is removed too early 

after spraying, saltcedar will shift stored carbohydrate 

reserves toward apical root buds and will re-sprout. 

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Table 2. Herbicide recommendations 

Common 

Chemical 

Name (active 

ingredient) 

Product 

Example1 

Broadcast 

Treatment 

(rate per 

acre) 

Individual Plant 

Treatment (spray 

solution)2 

Time of 

Application Remarks 

Triclopyr Garlon 4, NA 50:50 mixture of Anytime For cut stump treatment, apply to fresh cut 

ester Remedy, 

Ultra, 

[others 

available] 

triclopyr and crop oil 

with a blue indicator 

dye. 

stump within 15 minutes of cutting. 

Imazapyr Arsenal, 

Habitat, 

[others 

available] 

2 quarts 1 percent mixture for 

foliage spray (1 gallon 

per 100 gallons of 

water with 0.25 percent 

surfactant and a blue 

indicator dye). 

Late summer to 

early fall when 

plants are taking 

up nutrients; 

plants should be 

healthy and not 

stressed. 

For IPT, spray to wet all foliage especially 

the terminal ends of branches. For aerial 

broadcast spraying, add 0.25% nonionic 

surfactant. Use a high spray volume; 15 

gallons per acre total solution when applied 

by helicopter. Allow two full growing 

seasons before follow-up treatment. 

This herbicide is a non-selective amino acid 

inhibitor and will kill desirable vegetation. 

In addition to spray drift, nontarget plants 

may also be killed or injured by imazapyr 

through runoff, residue movement in soil, or 

root exudates from treated plants. 

Imazapyr + Arsenal + 1.5 quarts + 1/2 to 1 gallon + 1/2 to Same as Both herbicides are non-selective amino 

glyphosate Rodeo 1.5 quarts 1 gallon (1–2 pounds 

+ 2–4 pounds per 100 

gallons of water with 

0.25 percent surfactant 

and a blue indicator 

dye). 

imazapyr acid inhibitors and will kill desirable 

vegetation through spray drift. In addition, 

imazapyr may also kill or injure non-target 

plants through runoff, residue movement in 

soil, or root exudates from treated plants. 

1 Trade names for products are provided for example purposes only, and other products with the same active ingredient(s) may be available. Individual 

product labels should be examined for specific information and appropriate use with saltcedar. 

2 Spray solution is the herbicide/water ratio in a spray mix that may be used for spot treatment with backpack or hand-held sprayers. The amount of product 

applied during an annual growing season must not exceed the maximum application rate per acre as specified by the product label – refer to the product label 

for the site type and application. 

Airplanes or helicopters can be used to spray saltcedar 

successfully if the aircraft is equipped with the proper 

spray system. Helicopters can spray difficult, “tight” areas 

that require precision application such as edges of 

meandering rivers or saltcedar stands interspersed with 

non-target vegetation. Fixed-wing aircraft are better for 

spraying large, monotypic blocks of saltcedar where an 

overlapping spray pattern can be delivered at a lower cost 

than by a helicopter. Aircraft should be equipped with a 

satellite guidance system, a variable rate flow meter, and 

an onboard GIS display system for spraying in wildland 

situations. Areas to be sprayed should be pre-mapped, and 

the onboard computer spray system should be preprogrammed to apply herbicide only on defined treatment 

areas. Swaths should be overlapped to prevent streaking 

whereby plants are left untreated or slightly damaged. 

For aerial applications, the spray volume should be 

sufficiently high to insure maximum spray coverage. Spray 

nozzles should be fitted to deliver moderate to large-sized 

droplets ranging from 450 to 1,200 μm. As indicated in 

table 2, a spray mixture may include 2 quarts of imazapyr 

or a 1.5 quarts imazapyr plus 1.5 quarts glyphosate mixture 

applied in water. A nonionic surfactant (0.25percent by 

volume) and a drift control agent (0.07 percent by volume) 

should be added to the mixture. For optimum plant control, 

an aerial application should leave the entire saltcedar 

canopy glistening with spray liquid long after spraying has 

occurred. This can partially be accomplished by equipping 

the aircraft with the correct spray system and by spraying 

under optimal environmental conditions. Moderate 

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temperatures (60 to 80 o

F), high relative humidity (65 to 

90 percent), and light winds (3 to 7 mph) are ideal to 

maximize herbicide activity. Late summer (August– 

September) is usually the best time to spray saltcedar by 

aircraft. Plants to be sprayed should be in a healthy state 

with full foliage that has not been stressed by drought, hail 

damaged, or beginning to turn yellow late in the season. 

Integrated Control Methods 

Aside from beetle defoliations, successful long-term 

control for saltcedar ordinarily includes a combination of 

mechanical, fire, and chemical control methods. A 

combination of control methodsis particularly necessary if 

the primary objective is to achieve long-term native plant 

stability. For example, a herbicide–burn–mechanical 

treatment sequence is a practical approach for controlling 

large, monotypic tracts of saltcedar on valley bottoms and 

floodplains. The initial step is to apply herbicide aerially, 

which typically provides 70 to 90 percent saltcedar 

mortality. After 2 years, prescribed burning is used to 

remove dead aerial trunks and stems. When prescribed 

burning cannot be done, mechanical treatments such as 

chaining, cabling, bulldozing, or roller chopping may be 

used to drop standing dead debris. Surviving saltcedar 

plants can then be removed in the fourth or fifth year after 

spraying with an excavator, grubber, or root plow and 

raking. In some instances, IPT foliage spraying may be 

needed to control saltcedar re-sprouting. 

Management Strategies 

Consideration should be given to the ongoing expansion of 

Diorhabda beetles before implementing saltcedar control 

projects in Arizona or New Mexico. In some cases, beetle 

defoliations repeated over time may provide adequate 

control for specific land management objectives. Timing 

control projects in conjunction with beetle defoliations 

may also be useful. For example, it may be advantageous 

to apply herbicide after beetle defoliation has weakened 

the saltcedar. However, herbicide application may also 

delay return of beetles to defoliated saltcedar stands. 

In the absence of beetle expansions, saltcedar may be 

managed to enhance downstream water flow, recreation, 

fire prevention, grazing, flood control, and aesthetics. 

Saltcedar control strategies will vary depending on 

management objectives and location within a watershed. 

For example, eradication or reduction of saltcedar in 

headwaters or upstream areas may help prevent the spread 

of saltcedar along waterways downstream. In transitional 

zones such as river edges or riparian areas, saltcedar may 

be removed to enhance water flow and channel 

characteristics. In depositional or flood plain areas, goals 

for saltcedar control can vary widely and may include 

enhancing wildlife habitat, minimizing potential fire 

hazard, regenerating native riparian communities, or 

meeting other multiple use needs. 

Costs for saltcedar control and revegetation are expensive, 

and careful selection of areas with a high potential for reestablishment is necessary to provide sustainable saltcedar 

control in the long term. In some situations, a treated area 

will recover naturally after aerial spraying without 

revegetation. In other situations, artificial plantings or 

seeding may be necessary. Sites that have dense saltcedar 

stands, poor hydrologic integrity, elevated salinity, or 

related conditions may have limited revegetation potential. 

A soil survey may beused to determine the soil texture, 

ground water depth, salinity levels, and other related soil 

factors that can ultimately influence replacement of the 

vegetation community. 

Once saltcedar has been removed by conventional physical 

or chemical treatment, aggressive revegetation is often 

required. Areas of saltcedar that have been defoliated by 

Diorhabda beetles may also require restoration to prevent 

establishment of invasive plants. Managers should 

understand revegetation requirements of a site after 

conventional treatment and include restoration as part of 

an overall management strategy. Without planning and 

care, treated areas may rapidly be reinvaded by saltcedar 

or other invasive species. In such instances, sustainable 

control over the long term is best accomplished by 

planting competitive native plants that have a high 

exclusionary ability. Native riparian woody species such as 

cottonwood (Populus deltoides), Goodding’s willow (Salix 

gooddingii), and coyote willow (S. exigua) have a rapid 

growth potential under conditions of low environmental 

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stress and are good candidate species for plantings. 

Typically, 5 or more years of consecutive field treatments 

will be necessary for conventional methods to eliminate or 

substantially reduce saltcedar and its seedbanks. Since it is 

ordinarily useless to treat an area only one time without retreatment, it is especially important to match resources to 

the area where saltcedar control is attempted. Only an area 

that can be retreated successfully should receive initial 

treatment so that resources are available to respray or 

retreat as necessary. Previously treated areas should be 

monitored continuously to control recovering saltcedar. 

Adaptive Management 

It is important to establish realistic goals and objectives in 

managing saltcedar, especially when infestations are 

widespread throughout a watershed. To improve long-term 

success, consider using an adaptive management approach 

with the overall goal of restoring desirable plant 

communities. The stepwise process for adaptive 

management involves: 

1. Assessment of the overall weed problem, 

2. Establishing management goals and objectives, 

3. Implementation of control strategies and 

measures, 

4. Monitoring the effectiveness of management 

actions, 

5. Evaluating actual outcomes in relation to expected 

results, and 

6. Adjusting practices as necessary. 

Steps of this process should be repeated in sequence as 

part of a continuous learning cycle that improves 

management planning and strategy by learning from the 

outcomes of previous management actions. In general, an 

adaptive management approach is considered to be 

successful if: 

1. Stakeholders are actively involved and remain 

committed to the process, 

2. Monitoring and assessment are used to adjust and 

improve management decisions, and 

3. Management goals and/or objectives for the 

resource are being achieved. 

References and Further 

Information 

BASF. 2006. A better approach to controlling saltcedar. 

Available at http://www.vmanswers.com/lib/PDF/ 

2645014_saltcedar_ss.pdf (accessed 2-2-09). 

Carruthers, R.I., C.J. DeLoach, J.C. Herr, G.L. Anderson, 

and A.E. Knutson. 2008. Saltcedar Areawide Pest 

Management in the Western USA. In O. Koul et al. 

(eds.) Areawide Pest Management: Theoryand 

Implementation. CAB Int., Wallingford, UK. pp. 

252–279. 

Duncan, K. and K. McDaniel. 2009. Chemical Weed and 

Brush Control for New Mexico rangelands. Coop. 

Exten. Serv. Circular 579. New Mexico State Univ., 

Las Cruces, NM. 

FISRWG. 1998. Stream Corridor Restoration: Principles, 

Processes, and Practices. Federal Interagency Stream 

Restoration Working Group (FISRWG).Available at 

http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/stream_ 

restoration/ (accessed 8-11-09). 

McDaniel, K.C. 2008. Saltcedar Information. In Weed 

Information, New Mexico State Univ. Web site. 

Available at http://agesvr1.nmsu.edu/saltcedar/ 

index.htm (accessed 2-2-09). 

Shafroth, P.B., J.R. Cleverly, T.L. Dudley, J.P. Taylor, C.V. 

Ripper III, E.P. Weeks, and J.N. Stuart. 2005. 

Control of Tamarix in the western United States: 

Implications for water salvage, wildlife use, and 

riparian restoration. Environ. Manage. 35(5):1-16. 

Williams, B.K., R.C. Szaro, and C.D. Shapiro. 2009. 

Adaptive Management: The U.S. Department of the 

Interior Technical Guide. U.S. Dept. of the Interior, 

Washington, DC. Available at http://www.doi.gov/ 

initiatives/AdaptiveManagement/TechGuide.pdf 

(accessed October 2011) 

Suggested Web Sites 

For information about calibrating spray equipment: 

NMSU Coop. Ext. Serv. Guide #A-613 Sprayer 

Calibration. Available at: http://aces.nmsu.edu/ 

pubs/_a/A-613.pdf 

8 
 

 

 

 

For more information or 

other field guides, contact: 

USDA Forest Service 

Southwestern Region 

Forest Health 

333 Broadway Blvd., SE 

Albuquerque, NM 87102 

Or visit the Southwestern Region’s 

website for invasive species: 

http://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/r3/invasivespecies 

The use of trade or firm names in this publication is for reader 

information only and does not imply endorsement of any 

product or service by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. 

Recommendations made here for 

pesticide use are not obligatory, 

nor do they imply that discussed 

uses have been registered. All 

uses of pesticides must be 

registered by appropriate State 

and/or Federal agencies before 

they can be applied. 

CAUTION: Pesticides can be 

injurious to humans, domestic 

animals, desirable plants, and fish or other wildlife—if they are 

not handled or applied properly. Use all pesticides carefully 

and lawfully. Follow recommended practices for the disposal 

of surplus pesticides and pesticide containers.