Invasive Plants in the District of Kent
Invasive plants are non-native plants that spread quickly through new areas, crowding out native plants and causing damage. Invasive plants cause billions of dollars in damages worldwide every year. They can reduce land for crop growth and reduce overall species diversity. They can also damage property and reduce property values. Under the BC Weed Control Act every landowner must control plants from the BC Noxious Weeds list on their land. Here are a few of the invasive plants found in the District of Kent, and some tips for keeping your property natural.
| Knotweed (Reynoutria spp.) |
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| Giant Hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum) |
 Giant Hogweed is a very large invasive plant with toxic sap, which can cause burns when handled. For this reason, treatment of Giant Hogweed is best left to professionals. It has large white clusters of flowers, jagged leaves, and splotchy purple stems. It also has a native lookalike, Cow-parsnip, which is very common and non-toxic. See our Giant Hogweed Fact Sheet on Identification and Control for more information. |
| Common Bugloss (Anchusa officinalis) |
 Common Bugloss is a new invader to the District of Kent, and very rare. It has small blue flowers that unfurl from a curled seed head. See our Common Bugloss Fact Sheet on Identification and Control for more information. |
| Himalayan Balsam (Impatiens glandulifera) |
 Himalayan Balsam, sometimes called Policeman’s Helmet, is an invasive plant that is found along waterways. It can be recognized by its exotic pink and purple flowers, shaped like a helmet. It can outcompete native plants and cause soil erosion. See our Himalayan Balsam Fact Sheet on Identification and Control for more information. |
Knotweed species are fast-growing invasive plants that look similar to bamboo, but with larger leaves. Knotweed can damage pipes and driveways. Cutting or mowing them is not recommended, as they can grow back from tiny fragments. Herbicide is the best available treatment. See our Invasive Plant Reporting
The District is asking for the communities help to identify invasive plants and to work towards their containment and potentially their elimination. Please report all invasive plants in the District of Kent, by using the Report Invasive Plant form.
Municipal Grass and Garden Maintenance
To keep our community’s green spaces beautiful and healthy, the District’s Parks Department will perform weed and vegetation control in various locations throughout the spring and summer months. This treatment includes spraying herbicides on municipal grass, trails, garden beds and boulevards. All pesticide products in Canada are regulated by the Pest Management Regulatory Agency of Health Canada (PMRA) (Link: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/consumer-product-safety/pesticides-pest-management.html.) PMRA’s mandate is to prevent unacceptable risk to people and the environment from the use of any pesticide. The PMRA conducts extensive reviews to make sure that a product containing pesticides meets the latest health and safety standards and that it works as claimed.
The application of herbicides and pesticides in BC is regulated by the Ministry of Environment under the Integrated Pest Management Program (Link: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment/pesticides-pest-management/pesticide-use/regulations-consultations.) This program requires the District to apply for an annual pesticide application permit, report on the pesticides used each year and requires certified applicators to apply herbicide products.
Weather Conditions
Ideal weather conditions for herbicide treatment include low wind speed and little to no precipitation within the 24 hour forecast. Licensed applicators in the parks department will ensure ideal weather conditions are present prior to preparing for a herbicide treatment in the designated area.
Treatment Signage
Herbicide application signs will be posted for a 48 hour period, indicating the area that the application will be sprayed, the date and time and the type of product being used. For your safety, please follow all posted information at all times.
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