When it comes to Leskiw’s job, the lines are much more defined. They’re laid out in the Weed Control Act; it is packed full of plants considered “noxious” and “prohibited noxious.” These are often beautiful plants that grow exceptionally well and fast in our climate, causing those in the city and outlying areas to worry they may damage the environment if left unchecked.
For centuries, plants have moved from one place to another. When it comes to plants we often see in gardens and open spaces, many are not native to our part of the world. Some ornamentals – creeping vines, showy orchids and daisies – that grow modestly in their countries of origin run unchecked in Alberta, where they’re free from the insects, disease and climate factors that initially controlled them. In an ironic twist, these rogue plants have an advantage over native species.
Common dandelions were brought over by European settlers in the mid-1600s. They cultivated the plants for food and medicine, but it didn’t take long for dandelions to spread beyond garden patches. While there are many non-native species of dandelions, there are a few that are native to North America, with one small alpine species growing in Alberta.
Lallemand says that dandelions are off the list mostly because they can’t be controlled anymore, so essentially the City is throwing in the Weedwacker.
Other weeds are difficult to remove and dispose of. A few are so invasive that they may need to be buried several metres underground, away from light and moisture. It’s like an excerpt from an Anne Rice novel. Conditions need to be just right; otherwise, the creature will rise again. Next to these weeds, dandelions seem inconsequential and, in most cases, controlling them just takes persistence, plus the odd jab from a wooden stake.
Nicole Kimmel, a weed specialist with Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development, agrees. “Dandelions are usually a sign of lack of nutrients and lack of competition; you don’t have enough grass in there to outcompete the dandelions,” she says.