Invasive plant species targeted for removal in Guelph parks restoration effort

With an eye on improving the ecological health of local parks and natural areas, city officials are planning to remove invasive plant species

“Invasive species crowd out native species, threaten ecological integrity of parks and natural areas, and reduce habitat for wildlife,” states a post on the city’s website. “Removing both invasive species before they establish and spread protects our parks and natural areas.”

Among the invasive species targeted for removal are buckthorn, Japanese knotweed, dog strangling vine and phragmites australis.

Signs will be put up in each area announcing the use of Garlon and Roundup, both weed killers, which have a “low exposure risk to people and animals when used correctly,” the post states, urging people to avoid work areas while signs are present.

However, park facilities and most trails will remain open during treatments.

Work in each area is expected to take three to five days, weather permitting.

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

Woodlot management and other invasive species

Some woodlots that were most significantly impacted by the loss of Ash trees due to Emerald Ash Borer are set for “full invasive species removal.” That may include garlic mustard, periwinkle, goutweed, burdock, greater celandine, lily of the valley, autumn olive, black locust, invasive honeysuckle, Norway maple and Manitoba maple.