Weed Control

Integrated Pest Management Plan - Methods of Control

The City of St. Albert has developed its own Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Plan, which is used to prevent and manage all weed control problems within St. Albert. The team at Public Operations (formerly Public Works) boasts up to five Certified Pesticide Applicators to carry out this plan. For more information on how the City uses this plan and to download and view the City of St. Albert's IPM Plan, please visit the Pest Control page.

The Provincial Weed Control Act and the Agricultural Pest Act contain regulations that identify various plants as weeds, respectively. These lists are by no means comprehensive, particularly concerning introduced species that have negatively impacted natural environment parks.

The Weed Control Act places plants into two categories:

Prohibited Noxious (Restricted) (e.g. Himalayan Balsam, Flowering Rush, Garlic Mustard, etc.)
Noxious (e.g. Scentless Camomile, Burdock and Canada Thistle, etc.)

Types of Weeds

Restricted weeds are required by law to be removed because of their competitive nature and the threat they pose to agriculture and the environment due to their ability to spread rapidly and the difficulty involved to control them. The City ensures that these types of weeds are destroyed following this legislation.

Noxious weeds have the potential for rapid spread, and by law, they must be controlled to prevent this.

Following the Integrated Pest Management Plan, the City strives to control these types of weeds in accordance with all federal, provincial and municipal regulations.

Nuisance weeds are those species that are not in the Weed Control Art but are still considered to be undesirable in manicured landscapes. For example, dandelions are considered a nuisance weed. The City uses mowing as our primary aesthetic weed control practice to maintain and manage nuisance weeds.

Learn more about how the City responds to dandelions in the video below.

Spraying in Park Areas

When a park area is treated, City crews post notices. This ensures users are aware of the spraying and also notifies them of the date when normal park use can resume.

The City continues to explore available alternatives to the chemicals currently used in weed control. When chemical spraying programs are necessary, they are coordinated with park uses and seasonal activities. School fields are not sprayed until the schools are adjourned for the summer, and sports fields are maintained in the off-season.

If you have any questions or concerns about spraying in your area, please call 780-459-1557.

For additional information on The City’s approaches to parks and open spaces, chemical-free lawns, and beaver management guidelines, please visit Natural Areas and Urban Biodiversity and the Office of Environment.