Prevention Practices

Last Review/Updated: November 29, 2004

  1. Limit Soil Disturbances

    To limit the establishment of invasive plant infestations, prevent unnecessary soil disturbances wherever possible.

  2. Immediate Re-vegetation of Disturbed Sites

    To limit the potential establishment of invasive plants on disturbed ground, re-vegetate the area with an approved species in a timely manner. If the area has a known invasive plant population, it may be better to control the plants prior to re-vegetation.

  3. Use Certified "Weed Free" Seed for Re-vegetation of Disturbed Sites

    Canada #1 Seed, approved under the Canada Seed Act, may not be invasive plant free. To ensure a seed mix is virtually invasive plant free, a purchaser should request a "Certificate of Seed Analysis." To get a more detailed "Certificate of Seed Analysis" the purchaser can request a larger seed sample analyzed, rather than the typical 25 g sample to improve the confidence of the analysis. Alternatively, one can start with pure seed and then prepare the seed mix manually.

  4. Clean Equipment and Materials

    Practice due diligence by ensuring that all equipment, materials and vehicles are free of invasive plant seeds and plant parts before arriving on site. All agricultural implements or any equipment potentially exposed to invasive plants must be cleaned prior to use. Also equipment, materials and vehicles exposed to weeds are to be cleaned prior to leaving the infested site.

  5. Use of "Weed Free" Hay Bales for Erosion Control and Feed

    The use of straw bales for erosion control is discouraged. Unlike hay, it is very difficult to determine if the straw bales are free of invasive plant seeds. Therefore, certified "weed free" hay bales acquired from producers with a "Certificate of Inspection" should be used for erosion control. Hay imported for feed should as well be certified "weed free."

  6. Early Detection and Eradication

    Because a single plant and small infestations are much easier to control than large infestations, it is important to manage invasive plants proactively through continuous monitoring. To do this effectively, field staff should be trained in the identification of restricted and noxious invasive plants , collection of survey information, and the importance of destroying individual invasive plants and reporting new infestations in a timely manner.

  7. Pre-activity Invasive Plant survey

    An invasive plant survey should be completed prior to the commencement of any land disturbing activities to identify potential problem areas. Sites with invasive plants identified on them should be made note of in order to alter practices to limit their spread (e.g. control prior to land disturbance, clean equipment and materials before leaving site). As the pre-activity invasive plant survey acts as a heads up for potential infestations, a follow-up survey should be completed to assess the invasive plant conditions as a result of the activities.

  8. Limit Seed Introductions in Fill

    Inspect gravel pits, soil stockpiles or other fill sources for invasive plants prior to movement of the material to ensure the product has a low risk of introducing invasive plants.

  9. Communication

    Communication between various stakeholder and Provincial and Municipal Government agencies is beneficial to transfer information promoting regional awareness. Information such as the invasive plant history of certain locations or invasive plant infestation locations may be beneficial to all parties.

  10. Incorporate Invasive Plant Management in Planning Phase

    Invasive plants should be considered in all operational plans to ensure effective and efficient management. Effective invasive plant management plans incorporate education, survey, control, and prevention.

  11. Education and Awareness

    Invasive plant education and awareness programs developed co-operatively or individually by companies and agencies are essential in order to put the above prevention measures into practice.