The best way to protect against the damage caused by kudzu is to prevent its introduction. Kudzu primarily spreads vegetatively (runners & rhizomes) but also can spread though seed. Soil should not be transported from infested areas and any transplanted plants should be bare rooted; nursery owners should carefully monitor new stock. Equipment and tools should be thoroughly cleaned after being used in kudzu invaded areas. Stone or wood products could be a pathway of spread if they have viable vines or seeds on them. 

Once established, Kudzu is extremely difficult to eradicate even with chemical means. It may take 5 to 10 years of intense effort to eradicate a mature population. The main reason that kudzu is so difficult to eradicate is that it has a massive root/rhizome system that stores large amounts of starch and can regrow new shoots rapidly if the tops are removed. If using herbicides, they should be applied multiple times during the growing season to deplete the rhizome storage. Smaller populations can be mowed or cut every two weeks while actively growing; all plant crowns must be cut so that the vine network is depleted. Cut material should be disposed of by burning or landfilling. In some cases, intensive grazing by goats or sheep can reduce long-term growth.