Giant Hogweed on Town Propery

As warmer weather is now approaching Town of Halton Hills staff will once again be vigilant in their efforts to control and destroy Giant Hogweed, an invasive noxious plant species.

This plant produces a clear, toxic watery sap that can cause severe skin reactions commonly known as photosensitivity. It is important that people do not touch or attempt to remove this plant without ensuring they are totally protected against contact from the sap. If you are unsure of how to deal with this plant you should avoid it altogether, and contact a licensed weed control company.

This is an invasive species that has the potential to cause severe reactions to residents who come in contact with the plant’s sap. I encourage everyone to contact the proper authorities should they discover the weed on Town or their property. The best course of action in dealing with this plant is to avoid it if possible. Valuable information is available from the Halton Region Conservation Authority and I would encourage anyone who has knowledge of the presence of this plant to contact the HRCA or the Town of Halton Hills to have this invasive weed removed.

Last year a large test site on the Third Line near the Scotch Block reservoir was set up by the Chief Weed Inspector of Ontario and the University of Guelph to determine the most effective means to destroy this plant using selective herbicides.

Now that the test has been completed along the Third Line, near the Scotch Block reservoir, the Town will destroy the Giant Hogweed within the road allowance. The` timing of the work will be weather dependent and staff expects to have this completed by the end of May. Signage will be placed prior to the work being undertaken as set out in the Town of Halton Hills Pesticide Application in Turf Areas policy.

Further information on the Giant Hogweed is available from Conservation Halton at www.conservationhalton.on.ca ,or through the Provincial web site at www.weedinfo.ca .

If you have Giant Hogweed on your property, lawn care companies are licensed to spray herbicides that can assist in eradicating this noxious weed.

If you find Giant Hogweed on Town property, please contact the Town of Halton Hills Infrastructure Services Department at (905) 873-2601, extension 2603. The Town will take appropriate actions to destroy the Giant Hogweed.