Invasive Plants and Pests in Sumner County: What to Watch For

For invasive plants, tree pests or unexplained tree damage in Sumner County, start with the UT Extension Sumner County office in Gallatin for identification and management guidance. The office provides pest identification and plant-disease diagnosis resources and can be reached at 615-452-1423. For suspected forest pests or emerging invasive insects, use the Tennessee Department of Agriculture’s Report a Pest system. Photograph the plant, insect or damage, record the location and date, and avoid moving potentially infested firewood, nursery stock or equipment until the issue is identified.

Invasive plants and pests can affect gardens, farms, timber, shade trees, waterways and wildlife habitat. For Sumner County residents, the most useful first step is not automatically spraying or cutting. It is identifying the plant, insect or damage correctly and contacting the right Tennessee resource.

The UT Extension Sumner County office in Gallatin provides agricultural and horticultural assistance, including pest identification and plant-disease diagnosis resources. The Tennessee Department of Agriculture’s Division of Forestry also maintains statewide information about invasive plants, harmful insects, pathogens and forest-health reporting.

Start here: a local checklist

If you find an unfamiliar plant, insect or tree problem on your property:

1. Take clear photos of the whole plant or tree, leaves, bark, flowers, fruit, insect and damage pattern.
2. Record the location and date. Note whether the sighting is in a pasture, garden, woodland edge, streambank, roadside or landscaped area.
3. Do not move soil, firewood, nursery stock, hay, equipment or cut plant material until you understand whether it could spread a pest or plant.
4. Ask for identification before treating. Similar-looking native plants, herbicide injury, drought stress and ordinary insects can be mistaken for invasive species.
5. Use the appropriate reporting channel. Contact UT Extension for local diagnostic guidance; report suspected forest pests or emerging invasive insects through the Tennessee Department of Agriculture’s Report a Pest system.

What makes a plant or pest invasive?

A non-native species is not automatically invasive. Tennessee forestry materials distinguish non-native plants from invasive plants that displace native vegetation or create significant ecological, agricultural or forest-management problems.

In practice, an invasive species may spread quickly because it produces abundant seeds, grows from fragments, tolerates disturbance or lacks effective natural controls in its new environment. Roadsides, construction areas, stream corridors, forest edges, equipment yards and recently disturbed soil can be especially important places to inspect. Tennessee guidance identifies equipment, vehicles, wildlife, wind and water as pathways that can move invasive plants or pests.

The fact that a species appears on a Tennessee list does not, by itself, prove that it is established on a particular Sumner County property. County-level presence should be confirmed through an authoritative detection, diagnostic result or current map.

Invasive plants Tennessee landowners may encounter

Tennessee sources identify a range of invasive or pest plants that can affect natural areas, forests, farms and landscapes. Examples include:

Plant — Why it matters — What to do first

Chinese privet — Can form dense understory growth and compete with native vegetation. — Photograph leaves, stems and the surrounding area before removal.

Japanese honeysuckle — A vigorous vine that can cover shrubs and young trees. — Avoid spreading cut stems or berries; identify the plant before disposal.

Kudzu — A fast-growing vine that can cover trees and other vegetation. — Do not assume one cutting will control it; seek a management plan for established patches.

Japanese stiltgrass — A grass associated with disturbed ground and forest edges. — Clean footwear, mowers and equipment after working in infested areas.

Tree-of-heaven — A rapidly growing tree associated with disturbed sites and a recognized host of spotted lanternfly. — Do not rely on casual identification; photograph leaves, bark and seed clusters.

Mimosa, autumn olive, privet and several honeysuckles — Tennessee classifies several non-native shrubs and trees as pest plants because of their effects on agricultural, horticultural or forest interests. — Check the current state list and obtain species-specific management advice.

Tennessee’s aquatic nuisance species plan lists pest plants including Amur or shrub honeysuckle, autumn olive, Chinese privet, cogongrass, mimosa, multiflora rose, purple loosestrife and tropical spiderwort, among others. The Tennessee forest landscape plan also lists established invasive plant threats such as tree-of-heaven, Chinese privet, Japanese honeysuckle, kudzu, Japanese stiltgrass, English ivy, burning bush, Japanese knotweed and other species.

This is a recognition and referral list, not a recommendation to remove every plant immediately. Some species require repeated treatment, careful disposal or coordination with neighboring landowners. Removing only the visible top growth can leave roots, crowns or seed sources behind.

Tree pests and forest threats to recognize

Emerald ash borer

Emerald ash borer attacks ash trees and can eventually kill them. Tennessee confirmed emerald ash borer in Robertson County in December 2025, making the pest especially relevant to Middle Tennessee residents even though that announcement did not establish a Sumner County detection.

Look for thinning crowns, branch dieback, D-shaped exit holes, bark splits, woodpecker activity and winding galleries beneath the bark. These symptoms can have other causes, so identification should be confirmed before treatment or removal.

Spotted lanternfly

Tennessee confirmed spotted lanternfly in Knox County in 2025. The Tennessee Department of Agriculture says the insect can attack grapevines, fruit trees and hardwoods, while egg masses may be attached to vehicles, trailers, firewood, outdoor equipment, furniture and toys.

If you see a suspected spotted lanternfly or egg mass, photograph it and report it through the state’s pest-reporting system. Inspect vehicles, boats, campers and outdoor equipment before moving them.

Hemlock woolly adelgid

Hemlock woolly adelgid is a small, aphid-like insect that feeds on eastern and Carolina hemlocks. The most recognizable sign is white, wool-like material on the undersides of branch tips, especially from late fall through early summer.

The current Tennessee Division of Forestry page reports infestations in 43 counties in East Tennessee and the Cumberland Plateau. That information should not be interpreted as a Sumner County detection. If you manage hemlocks, do not move potentially infested branches, logs or nursery material, and seek advice before using insecticides.

Southern pine beetle

Southern pine beetle is native to North America but can cause serious damage during outbreaks. Signs include pitch tubes, fading or reddening crowns, small exit holes and S-shaped galleries beneath the bark.

Tennessee forestry guidance emphasizes maintaining healthy pine stands, managing overcrowding and responding quickly when an infestation is suspected. Landowners with pine acreage should contact their county agent, a professional forester or the Division of Forestry rather than waiting for widespread mortality.

Elm zigzag sawfly and other emerging threats

Elm zigzag sawfly was first reported in Tennessee populations in Washington County in 2025. Its most distinctive sign is a zigzag feeding pattern in elm leaves.

A suspected new or unusual pest is worth reporting even when it has not been confirmed in Sumner County. Early reports help state agencies determine whether a species is spreading and whether additional guidance is needed.

How to inspect your property without spreading a problem

Homeowners and land managers can reduce risk with a few routine habits:

• Clean equipment between properties. Remove soil, seeds and plant fragments from mowers, tractors, trailers, boots and hand tools.
• Be careful with firewood. Do not transport firewood long distances when local or state guidance identifies movement as a pest pathway. Tennessee forestry materials identify firewood movement as an important way to limit the spread of invasive forest pests.
• Inspect new plants. Check nursery stock, root balls, leaves and stems before planting.
• Avoid dumping yard waste in woods or stream corridors. Cut vines, berries, roots and branches can create new infestations.
• Keep records. Mark the location of a patch or damaged tree and photograph it again after management.
• Protect native vegetation. Dense native plantings and reduced soil disturbance can make it harder for invasive plants to establish.

Removal and management: choose the right next step

The appropriate response depends on the species, size of the infestation, season, site and intended land use. A small garden plant may be hand-pulled, while an established woodland patch, pasture infestation or mature tree pest may require a multi-year plan.

Before treating:

1. Confirm the identity. UT Extension lists pest identification and plant-disease diagnosis among its agriculture diagnostic resources.
2. Determine the treatment area. Consider nearby property, water, wells, crops, livestock, pollinators and desirable plants.
3. Use only legally labeled products and follow the label. Tennessee regulates pesticide sales and applications, including restricted-use pesticides and certified applicators.
4. Avoid broad treatment when the diagnosis is uncertain. Tennessee forestry guidance notes that herbicide injury can resemble plant disease or other stress and that improper applications can harm non-target plants.
5. Plan follow-up. Seeds, roots and resprouts often mean that one treatment or one cutting is not the end of the problem.

For forest-health concerns on larger acreage, Tennessee’s forestry landowner-assistance resources direct property owners toward a local area forester. For smaller properties or individual trees, the state recommends UT Extension, a qualified tree-care professional or an appropriate diagnostic resource.

Where Sumner County residents can get help

UT Extension Sumner County

The UT Extension Sumner County office serves homeowners, farmers and other agricultural or horticultural producers. The office lists pest identification and plant-disease diagnosis among its agriculture diagnostic services.

Sumner County Extension Office

658 Hartsville Pike

Gallatin, TN 37066

615-452-1423

Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

When contacting the office, have photos, the plant or tree name if known, the location, the date first noticed, recent weather conditions and any pesticide or fertilizer history available.

Tennessee Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry

The Division of Forestry provides information about invasive plants, harmful insects, pathogens, emerging threats and pest reporting. Its Find a Forester resource includes Sumner County in the Davidson–Robertson–Sumner–Wilson service grouping.

Report a Pest

Use Tennessee’s Report a Pest system for suspected forest pests, unusual insects, visible egg masses or serious tree damage. Include clear photographs, the exact location, date of observation and host tree or plant when known.

A seasonal prevention checklist

Spring

• Inspect trees as leaves emerge.
• Look for unusual leaf feeding, bark holes, dieback and vines covering young trees.
• Remove or clean equipment before moving between fields, yards and woodlots.

Summer

• Photograph flowering, fruiting or seeding invasive plants before management.
• Watch pine crowns, ash trees, elms and hemlocks for changes.
• Avoid moving cut plant material or firewood without checking for pests and egg masses.

Fall and winter

• Inspect bark, branch tips and leaf litter for overwintering signs.
• Plan removal when the site and species-specific guidance make treatment most effective.
• Recheck previously managed patches rather than assuming they are gone.

The best next step for Sumner County property owners

If you are unsure what you found, start with identification—not removal. Send photographs and site information to UT Extension Sumner County or use the Tennessee Department of Agriculture’s Report a Pest system for a suspected forest pest or emerging invasive insect. Until the issue is identified, keep potentially infested material, firewood, soil and equipment from moving to another property.

MyGallatin will review this guide periodically because pest detections, reporting tools and management recommendations can change. Last verified: August 16, 2026.