The weather has warmed up and spring is finally here. The landscape is a beautiful green right now but not for long – the invasive plants will be starting to flower soon.
It is time to check your property to see what is growing and plan on how you will control the invasive plants this year.
Before you start, make sure you have the information you need to identify the plants growing. If not, contact the Boundary Weed Management Committee who can provide you with identification books and assistance with identifying new plants.
This service is free of charge to residents anywhere in the Boundary.
Don’t let the invasive plants get ahead of you. If you have bare soil, you are just inviting these invaders to move in, so make sure you re-seed bare ground with a seed mix suitable for your site. Contact your local seed supplier for recommendations on what to plant.
Prevent new invasive plants from getting to your property by making sure any fill or gravel you buy does not contain invasive plants requiring equipment to be cleaned before it arrives.
Need help with treatment? There are some services available through the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary (RDKB) that could help.
The Spray Equipment Loan-out Program has a range of equipment available for residents of the Boundary to borrow. For information on the equipment available or to book the equipment, contact Irene Perepolkin at 250-442-3817 or Paul Henderson at 250-442-3590.
There is a 50 per cent Cost Share Program within RDKB Area D and E for control of some invasive plants including Hoary alyssum (RDKB Area ‘D’ only), Spotted and Diffuse knapweed and Sulphur cinquefoil.
The New Invaders Program that covers 100 per cent of the treatment cost for control of high priority invasive plants with limited distribution including Common bugloss, Common tansy, Leafy spurge, Hoary alyssum (RDKB Area ‘E’ only) and invasive hawkweeds. More information on all these programs is available at www.rdkb.com, under Services, or by contacting the RDKB office in Grand Forks.
For more information on managing invasive plants in the Boundary please contact Barb Stewart, the Boundary Weed Program Coordinator at bwmc@nethop.net or phone 250-446-2232.