Guelph, Ont., March 13, 2024 – We’re working to improve ecological health in our parks and natural areas by removing invasive plant species like buckthorn, Japanese knotweed, dog strangling vine and phragmites australis (also called common weed). Invasive species crowd out native species, threaten ecological integrity of parks and natural areas, and reduce habitat for wildlife. Removing both invasive species before they establish and spread protects our parks and natural areas.
Removals take place between the months of March to November using mechanical and herbicide methods. The work for each site takes three to five days to complete, weather permitting, and signs will be installed in each location during the treatment.
Please stay out of work areas when signs are present
Both Garlon™ and Roundup WeatherPro® have a low exposure risk to people and animals when used correctly. During removals, park facilities and most trails will remain open, however, we ask that you avoid marked work areas until signs are removed.
Invasive species removal by type and location
Japanese knotweed
- Royal Recreational Trail near Edinburgh Road South, September-October
- Rapids Side Trail, September-October
- James Street Trail, September-October
- Speed River Trail near Heritage Park, September-October
- Westminster Woods Trail entrance near Beaver Meadows Drive, September-October
- Eramosa River Trail, September-October
- Heritage Park, September-October
- Silvercreek Trail, September-October
- Spurline Trail, September-October
- Yewholme Park and natural area, September-October
- Northumberland Park, September-October
- Mico Valeriote Park, September-October
- Downtown Trail near Ann Street and Earl Street, September-October
- Paisley and Edinburgh Park and natural area, September-October
- River Run Centre property, September-October
- York Road easement to Smith Avenue, September-October
Dog strangling vine
- Goldie Park, April-September
- Hadati Creek Trails, April-September
- Eramosa River Trail natural areas, April-September
- Howitt Park, April-September
- Dunhill Park Trail, April-September
- Pineridge Trail, April-September
- Suffolk Park, April-September
Buckthorn
- Speed River Trail natural area entrance off Ingram Drive, March-November
- Eramosa River Trail natural areas, March-November
- Crane Park, March-November
- Joseph Wolfond Park West, March-November
- Clair Road natural restoration area, March-November
- Centennial Park, March-November
- Preservation Park, March-November
- Speed River between McCrae Boulevard and Hanlon Parkway, April – November
- Guelph Street easement, March-November
- Creighton natural area, March-November
- Downey and Niska stormwater management pond, March-November
- Pineridge Trail, April-September
- University Village, March-November
Phragmites
- Gosling Gardens natural area, August-September
- Harts Lane West, August-September
- Teal Drive South natural area, August-September
- Downey and Niska stormwater management pond, August-September
- Severn Drive stormwater management pond, August-September
- Eastview Park, August-September
- Grange Road Park natural area, August-September
- Cityview stormwater management pond, August-September
- Hanlon Business Park natural area, August-September
- Starwood Drive stormwater management pond, August-September
- Summit Ridge stormwater management pond, August-September
- Watson and Wason stormwater management pond, August-September
- Clair Road, August-September
- Maltby Road, August-September
Wild Parsnip
- Westminster Woods Park, April-September
Read more about how and why we remove invasive species from parks and natural areas on Guelph.ca.
Woodlot management and other invasive species
Select woodlots that were most significantly impacted by the loss of Ash trees due to Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) will undergo full invasive species removal, which may include garlic mustard, periwinkle, goutweed, burdock, greater celandine, lily of the valley, autumn olive, black locust, invasive honeysuckle, Norway maple and Manitoba Maple. To learn more about the removal of EAB please refer to Guelph’s EAB plan.
Woodlot management
- Marksam Park, April-September
- Mitchell Woods, April-September
- Hadati Creek Trail near Chesterton Lane to -Grange Road, April-September
- Hadati Creek Trail near Schroder Crescent to -Cityview Drive, April-September
- Margaret Greene Woodlot, April-September
- Sugartree Woodlot, April-September
- Elmira Park Woodlot, April-September
- Ridgeway/Greenway Woodlot, April-September
For more information
519-837-5626
[email protected]