Weed Control

Prussian Carp, Photo: alberta.ca/invasive-fish-species

The Town of Strathmore Parks Team prioritizes work to control noxious and prohibited weeds by monitoring parks and green spaces for invasive species, and taking action when these plants are identified. Dandelions may be the weed you notice the most, but keeping people, pets, and property safe is our first priority.

There are 75 species of non-native plants specified in the Alberta Weed Control Act. They present risks of spreading and causing significant economic or ecological damage.
These plants include some that may be toxic or parasitic to other plants, such as Red Bartsia, Knapweed, and Garlic Mustard. Hoary Alyssum, Knotweed, Puncturevine, and others are toxic to pets, livestock, and other animals.
Some are dangerous to humans. Black Henbane is toxic, and Hogweed can cause extremely painful rashes and blisters from any skin contact.

The Alberta Government proclaimed the current Weed Control Act in 2010. Noxious weeds must be controlled – meaning that they are permitted in a garden but cannot be allowed to spread from that area.

Prohibited noxious weeds are not permitted to be cultivated and must be destroyed.More information on provincially regulated weeds is available at: Alberta.ca/provincially-regulated-weeds.aspx

Controlling Weeds Information

Dandelions

Dandelions, while a nuisance, don’t cause property damage.

We prioritize weed control on noxious and prohibited weeds that can cause property damage or are potentially unsafe in our community.
Dandelions are also almost everywhere and capable of quickly spreading.
Our long-term strategy is to improve the health of our turf and other green spaces, however, where dandelions reach a predetermined threshold the Town will spray for this weed in our Class A and B parks.
Our Parks Team has been applying top dressing and fertilizer to Town green spaces. A healthy lawn or garden is a better defence against dandelions.

Black Henbane

Black Henbane is a toxic plant. Black Henbane is invasive and poisonous to both animals and humans – it should not be touched or ingested.

Cattle and other animals are susceptible to it, and it can cause tachycardia (very rapid heartbeat), convulsions, vomiting, hypertension (high blood pressure), hyperpyrexia (extreme fever), and other effects in humans.
Black Henbane has spread across much of the world, so there are other names for this plant: Hog’s-bean, Stinking Nightshade, and Devil’s Eyes.

If you find this nasty (but beautiful) noxious weed on your property please remove it promptly. Here are some tips to help you control Black Henbane safely:

Wear protective gloves, long sleeves and other protective clothing to avoid the plant coming into contact with the skin.
Use tools to help you remove the weed from the roots, clean tools thoroughly with soap and water afterwards.
Be particularly careful if the plant has gone to seed. Black Henbane spreads by seed, to avoid return of the problem, ensure all the seeds are disposed of.
Once removed, bag the plant and then tie or seal it the bag.
Dispose of Black Henbane in your black cart – do not compost it!
Wash your hands afterwards, and teach your children how to recognize this plant and avoid it.

Getting rid of it:

Preventing its establishment in an area is the most effective way to control Black Henbane.
Each mature plant is capable of producing thousands of seeds for dispersal.
The Town of Strathmore Parks Team is trained to identify Black Henbane.
Once identified, each plant is individually bagged and removed, then burned to eliminate seed dispersal.
Our crews monitor the area to eliminate other Black Henbane plants that may also be localized.
Several horticultural and government bodies recommend mowing as an effective control as well.

If you see Black Henbane growing in other locations around Strathmore, please use the Citizens’ Communication Form to report it

Citizen Communications Form

Thanks for your help keeping Strathmore Henbane Free!

Visit the Alberta Invasive Black Henbane information sheet for more information.

Skunks

Skunks; read our Skunk Brochure to learn how to make your yard less enticing to skunks and remove skunks that have already moved in.

Oystershell Scale on Trees

Oystershell Scale is an incredibly common invasive insect.

It hatches on fruit trees, common shrubs like cotoneasters and lilacs, as well as popular landscaping trees like willow and poplar.
When the insects hatch, they feed until they form a hard, armored scale – that looks like an oyster shell.

Symptoms of infestations don’t usually show until the shrub or tree is heavily infested.

You can spot infestations by their signature scaly-look on branches.
Your tree may also show signs of infestation such as yellowing leaves, die-back or dead patches in your shrubs.
Once they reach the scale stage these pests are difficult to eradicate. Their hard shell protects them from predators and most pesticides.

To prevent Oystershell Scale, keep trees healthy and water frequently.

Inspect your trees and shrubs regularly for crawlers.
If you catch Oystershell Scale during the crawler stage, pesticides, natural predators, and horticultural oils can help eradicate them.
This stage is observed in early June and only lasts for one week to ten days, so it is important to act quickly.

Prune back branches infected with scale. As with all insect infested or disease infected tree and shrub trimmings, bag these branches and dispose of them in your black cart.

The best time to prune trees is in early spring and autumn.
If you’re uncomfortable safely pruning your own trees, contact a local certified arborist to give you a hand. Learn more here.

Town of Strathmore
PO BOX 2280,
1 Parklane Drive, Strathmore, AB,
T1P 1K2,
Phone: (403) 934-3133
Fax: (403) 934-4713