[This dataset is embargoed until November 10, 2025]. The data resource comprises two years of monitoring data on planted saplings, aimed at restoring native trees in invaded subtropical mountain forests (Yungas). The forests were located in the Horco Molle Experimental Reserve and Parque Sierra de San Javier, Tucumán, Argentina. The data is part of an experiment that aims to investigate the effects of management control of the invasion of non-native species, particularly Ligustrum lucidum, and other less abundant non-native species, on the dynamics of the woody community. The experiment was conducted between June 2020 and November 2023. This work was carried out as part of NERC grant NE/S011641/1 “Optimising the long-term management of invasive species affecting biodiversity and the rural economy using adaptive management”. Full details about this dataset can be found at https://doi.org/10.5285/44f5b604-ed2c-465a-9f0c-e02f7027fae8