Guelph, Ont., March 21, 2025 – 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
Buckthorn
- Centennial Park, April – November
- Colonial Drive Park, April – November
- Covered Bridge west side, April – November
- Creighton natural area, April – November
- Downey and Niska stormwater management pond, April – November
- Dunhill Place Trail from Willow Road to Kipling Avenue, April – November
- Gosling Gardens Park, April – November
- Grange Road Park near Hill Trail and Creighton Avenue, April – November
- Hanlon Creek Park, April – November
- Howitt Park near Inkerman Street, April – November
- Joseph Wolfond Park West, April – November
- Preservation Park south of Kortright Road South, April – November
- Speed River North and South (Edinburgh Road South to Hanlon Parkway and McCrae Boulevard and Hanlon Parkway), April – November
- Spurline Trail, April – November
- University Village, April – November
- Woodland Glen Park and stormwater management pond, April – November
Dog strangling vine
- Dunhill Park Trail, April – November
- Eramosa River Trail natural areas, April – November
- Goldie Park, April – November
- Hadati Creek Trails, April – November
- Howitt Park, April – November
- Paisley and Hanlon, April – November
- Pineridge Trail, April – November
Japanese knotweed
- Ann Street, September – October
- Beaver Meadows, September – October
- Downtown Trail near Ann Street and Earl Street, September – October
- Eramosa River Trail, September – October
- Heritage Park, September – October
- James Street Road Allowance, September – October
- James Street Trail, September – October
- McCrae Woodlot, September – October
- Mico Valeriote Park, September – October
- Northumberland Park, September – October
- Paisley and Edinburgh Park and natural area, September – October
- Railway Corridor Ann Street to Early Street, September – October
- Railway Corridor Liverpool Street to Aberdeen Street, September – October
- Rapids Side Trail, September – October
- River Run Centre property, September – October
- Royal Recreational Trail near Edinburgh Road South, September – October
- Scout Camp Entrance, September – October
- Silvercreek Trail, September – October
- Speed River Trail near Heritage Park, September – October
- Spurline Trail, September – October
- Stone Road Allowance, September – October
- Westminster Woods Trail entrance near Beaver Meadows Drive, September – October
- Wolfond East, September – October
- Yewholme Park and natural area, September – October
- York Road easement to Smith Avenue, September – October
Phragmites
- Cityview stormwater management pond, August – September
- Clair Road, August – September
- Downey and Niska stormwater management pond, August – September
- Eastview Park, August – September
- Gosling Gardens Park, August – September
- Grange Road Park natural area, August – September
- Hanlon Business Park natural area, August – September
- Harts Lane West, August – September
- Hilltop Road, August – September
- Northview Natural Area, August – September
- Preservations Park, August – September
- Riverside Park, August – September
- Rotary Site, August – September
- Severn Drive stormwater management pond, August – September
- South East corner of Grange Road and Watson Parkway North, August – September
- Starwood Drive stormwater management pond, August – September
- Summit Ridge stormwater management pond, August – September
- Teal Drive South natural area, August – September
- Watson and Wason stormwater management pond, August – September
Wild Parsnip
- Starwood Drive stormwater management pond, April – September
- 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 buckthorn, 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
- Ellis Creek, April – September
- Elmira Park Woodlot, April – September
- Hadati Creek Trail near Schroder Crescent to Victoria Road, April – September
- Margaret Greene Woodlot, April – September
- Marksam Park, April – September
- Mitchell Woods, April – September
- Ridgeway/Greenway Woodlot, April – September
- Sugartree Woodlot, April – September
- Westminster Woodlot near Beaver Meadows Drive, south of Orin Reid Park, April – September
For more information
519-837-5626
[email protected]