The East Kootenay Invasive Species Council is ready to get to work coordinating the management of invasive species across the region.
While municipalities hire contractors to treat invasive weeds within the community, there is also plenty you can do as an individual to prevent the spread of invasives.
As many minds are turning to the garden at this time of year, EKISC has a recurring message — check your wildflower seed package.
It’s important to be vigilant when it comes to these packaged seed mixes.
Importing seeds individually and in mixtures is one of the primary pathways of introduction of invasive plants to Canada and BC and, therefore, one of the most critical pathways to target for prevention, says the Council in a press release.
All you need to do is watch the labels of your wildflower mixes, or even birdseed. Watch for Baby’s breath, Bachelors button or Cornflower, Black henbane, Blueweed, Common bugloss Butterfly bush, Common comfrey, Common periwinkle, Dames rocket, Field scabious, Flat peavine, Flowering rush, Foxglove, Giant reed, Himalayan balsam, Knotweeds, Leafy, ypress or Myrtle Spurge, Mountain bluet, Oxeye daisy, Purple loosestrife, Queen Anne’s Lace, Reed sweetgrass, Scentless chamomile, Shiny geranium, Tamarisk, Teasel, Velvetleaf, Wild caraway, Yellow archangel, Yellow flag iris, Yellow nutsedge, Yellow or Dalmatian Toadflax.
All of the above are invasive and may be found in seed mixes.
Another thing to do is to purchase your seeds from a retailer who displays the PlantWise logo.
If you have a seed mix blend that your are unsure about, you can take a photo of it and send it to megan@ekisc.com and program assistant Megan will let you know if it’s safe. EKISC will be out and about at farmer’s markets and events this summer. They have a safe seed mix for the East Kootenay available for sale.
READ: Public outreach on invasive weeds needed in Kimberley, Council told