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Invasive Plants
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INVASIVE PLANTS and ALTERNATIVES

An Overview for Residents

The Comox Valley Regional District Bylaw No. 2346 ’Regional District Weed Control Service Establishment Bylaw, 2001’ regulates weed control for electoral areas ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘C’.  The purpose of the service is to control and curtail the spread of noxious weeds on public and private land within these electoral areas.

What is an invasive or noxious weed?
Noxious weeds are typically non-native plants that have been introduced without their natural insect predators and plant pathogens that help keep them in check in their native habitats. For this reason and because of their aggressive growth, these alien plants can be highly destructive, competitive and difficult to control.

Why is it important to control these species?
Weed control helps protect our agriculture productivity and biodiversity from the negative impacts of foreign weeds. Vancouver Island and surrounding coastal communities possess some of the world's most diverse and rare ecosystems and support many rare and endangered species that depend on these unique habitats for their survival.

Which noxious weeds are of most concern in the Comox Valley?
Bylaw No. 2347, Schedule A, lists the invasive species for the electoral areas within the CVRD.

Who is responsible for clearing invasive plant species?
Homeowners or occupants within the electoral areas of the CVRD are responsible for keeping their property clear from all noxious weeds listed in Bylaw No. 2347, Schedule A

How can I identify an invasive species in my garden?
There are many excellent websites that include photographs of the invasive species listed in Bylaw No. 2347.

How can I help to prevent the establishment of an invasive species?
Using site and species appropriate methods such as hand pulling, digging, cutting and mowing can control invasive plants. Deadhead flowers, seedpods and berries of known invasive plants to prevent reproduction through seeds and to reduce seed spread by birds, wildlife, pets and people. Finally, use proper methods to dispose of invasive plant parts and seeds responsibly.

What species can I plant instead?
Grow me instead’ is a tool developed by the Invasive Plant Council of BC to identify invasive plants frequently found in gardens across BC and to provide suitable alternatives for a range of growing zones in this diverse province.

Where can I learn more about invasive plants?

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