Lanark County follows an Integrated Vegetation Management Plan (IVM) to use cultural, mechanical and chemical methods to control weed or brush concerns. The IVM Plan integrates two or more control methods to best target the weed while minimizing herbicide use and its impacts. Within the IVM Plan there are four major topics:
- Roadside vegetation
- Weed control
- Roadside restoration
- Education and awareness
Roadside Vegetation
It is important that we control roadside vegetation to:
- keep drivers safe on the road by keeping good sightlines into the ditch;
- to preserve the road surface by allowing water to drain; and
- to prevent the spread of invasive plants and toxic weeds.
The IVM Plan sets acceptable height limits for vegetation growing in different zones of the roadside cross-section for mowing and roadside restoration.
- Turf & Clear Zone
- Wildlife Zone
- Remaining Zone
We restrict mowing to the turf and clear zone, curves, and intersections for motorist visibility. We time our mowing to reduce the spread of noxious weeds and to avoid peak bloom times in mid-July. The remaining zones have taller height limits and are not mowed regularly. These zones may naturalize with native wildflowers for pollinators or may be actively restored.
Weed Control
Our weed control is applied as needed using the most targeted and selective methods. We use mechanical and chemical controls tailored to the biology of the weed and the number of plants. Our integrated approach aims to limit herbicide use and promote mechanical control where possible. Our roadside weed control focuses on controlling wild parsnip, a noxious and invasive plant.
Lanark County controls noxious weeds and invasive plants on roadsides and trails between the edge of the gravel to the property line. We control weeds within our rights-of-ways to:
- protect valued conservation areas from invasive plants;
- stop the spread of noxious and invasive weeds to private property and farmland;
- protect the health and safety of anyone who may need to enter the right-of-way; and
- maintain habitat for pollinators on our rights-of-ways.
Weed Inspector
Darren Umpherson, Weed Inspector for Lanark County, is appointed by By-Law to carry out and perform the duties required under the Weed Control Act. The Weed Inspector performs inspections and enforces complaints about nuisance weeds affecting agricultural and horticultural lands.
The purpose of the Weed Control Act is to reduce:
- noxious weeds for farmers;
- diseases spread by noxious weeds to crops; and
- health hazards for livestock and people.
If you require further information or wish to initiate an inspection by the Weed Inspector, please contact our business office at 613-267-1353.
Target Weeds
In Ontario we have the Invasive Species Act and the Weed Control Act that regulate invasive plants and noxious weeds. Noxious weeds usually are a health risk to livestock and people, difficult to manage on agricultural land, and cause damage to crops. The aim of the Weed Control Act is to reduce noxious weeds, diseases spread by noxious weeds, and health hazards for livestock and people. Invasive plants and noxious weeds can be tracked and reported to Ontario’s Early Detection & Distribution Mapping System (EDDMapS).
Lanark County has targeted six invasive plants and noxious weeds that cause damage to the environment, the economy, human health, and agriculture:
Wild Parsnip was introduced to Canada by early European settlers that escaped cultivation to disturbed areas, especially abandoned farmland. Crops and hay infested with wild parsnip lose their economic value because of the harmful effects for people and animals. Wild parsnip grows in dense stands that prevent other plants from growing for pollinators.
How to Control Wild Parsnip
The best management practices to control wild parsnip depend on the number of plants and the size of the infested area. Always wear protective clothing and eye protection when handling wild parsnip.
- For large areas of wild parsnip, you can hire a contractor to spray with herbicide or mow the area before the plant has seeds.
- For small infestations, the most effective method is to dig up the taproot.
- For dense patches, you can use a tarp to smother the plants for one growing season.
- For plants that have gone to seed, you can clip the seed heads.
Our Wild Parsnip Brochure provides a summary of control options.
- infest shorelines and lower property values;
- prevent water access for recreational activities like swimming, boating, and fishing;
- cause flooding in ditches by preventing water from draining that causes damage to property and crops;
- form dense stands that crowd out all other plants, which causes animals caught in Phragmites cells to die if they cannot escape; and
- increase the risk of fires.
How to Control Phragmites
Phragmites are difficult to control because of the well-established root system, but the best management practices provide some options for control and how to tell Phragmites from native grasses. Our Phragmites brochure provides a summary of control options.
How to Control Japanese Knotweed
According to the best management practices for Japanese knotweed controls like digging need to be done carefully because it can be spread by root fragments and digging can make infestations worse. Our Japanese knotweed brochure provides a summary of control options.
How to Control Dog-Strangling Vine
The best management practices to control dog-strangling vine depends on the number of plants and the size of the infested area. Control measures try to reduce the spread of the fluffy seeds that can travel long distances with the wind. Our Dog Strangling Vine Brochure provides a summary of control options.
How to Control Poison Ivy
Do not burn poison ivy leaves or stems. The poison can be released into tiny droplets in the smoke that can cause a severe reaction on exposed skin or in the breathing passage if inhaled. Always wear protective clothing when handling poison ivy. Our Poison Ivy brochure provides a summary of control options, and our digging recommendation page has more details about how to dig it up.
Giant hogweed damages crop quality and is a health risk for livestock and horses. Dense stands of giant hogweed also compete for space with other plants for pollinators.
How to Control Giant Hogweed
The best management practices to control giant hogweed depends on the number of plants and the size of the infested area. Always wear protective clothing and eye protection when handling giant hogweed. Our Giant Hogweed brochure provides a summary of control options and a comparison to its look-a-like, cow parsnip
Wild Parsnip Control
To control wild parsnip, we follow the principals outlined in our Integrated Vegetation Management (IVM) Plan and apply the control method based on the infestation levels. Generally:
- Very light infestations are dug by hand.
- Light, medium, and heavy infestations are targeted spot sprayed.
Spraying
We use ClearView to control wild parsnip and we hire fully licensed contractors to spray in areas we identify during our wild parsnip inventory.
We do not spray:
- Roadside ditches maintained by property owners
- At mailboxes or whenever a pedestrian is nearby
No Spray Options
If you do not want roadside spraying next to your property you have three options to submit to Lanark County Public Works department before May 23, 2025:
A program where groups (minimum 3 individuals) can enter into an agreement with Lanark County to complete various vegetation management activities.
An agreement between the County and a landowner (occupant) who takes alternative vegetation control actions to control noxious weeds within the road allowance adjacent to their lands, and the County does not spray.
Request for No Spraying Due to Extenuating Circumstances
If neither of the above options are feasible, landowner (occupant) should utilize this request.
For more information, email ivm@lanarkcounty.ca.
