Reading Time: < 1 minute White cockle has strikingly lovely white flowers and the fuzzy, almost furry opposite leaves give it a distinctive appearance. It is a member of the Pink family — it looks like pinking shears gave the five petals their deep notches. The Pink family includes chickweed and night flowering catchfly — catchfly is often mistaken for […] Read more
This tenacious invader is hard to defeat
Keep watch for this wetland invader
Reading Time: < 1 minute Flowering rush has been spotted in a few locations in Alberta, including an infestation on Lake Isle, located in Lac St. Anne and Parkland counties. Flowering rush is a perennial of freshwater wetlands that is native to Africa, Asia and Europe and was introduced to North America as an ornamental plant species. It is a […] Read more
Garlic mustard: An odorous invader
Reading Time: < 1 minute So far, garlic mustard has only been reported in Edmonton and St. Albert. While this species has not yet been spotted in agricultural areas, early identification and response is key in preventing the spread of this biennial weed. Garlic mustard has severely invaded forest understoreys in other provinces, as it generally prefers shaded areas and […] Read more
Don’t give this weed the nod
Reading Time: < 1 minute Nodding thistle is found in pockets around the province, but mainly in southern Alberta. This noxious weed is a prolific seed producer — a single flower can produce up to 1,200 seeds and a single plant up to 100,000 seeds. It can be recognized by the solitary large red to purple flowers at the end […] Read more
Fall yard care pays dividends next year
Reading Time: < 1 minute Autumn yard care can pay big dividends next year. Topping or cutting back herbaceous perennials can help prevent the overwintering of diseases and insects. Mulching will help to prevent plants from being forced from the ground (but apply mulch after the ground is frozen). Watering lightly after applying the mulch will help hold it in […] Read more
Don’t let this invader take hold
Reading Time: < 1 minute Leafy spurge is common throughout Alberta due to its ability to adapt to a variety of soil types through its extensive creeping root system. Stems are smooth and arranged in clumps, can grow up to a metre tall, and contain a milky latex. When it comes into contact with skin, the latex can cause irritation […] Read more
Now’s the time to attack winter annual weeds
Many winter annuals are often too well established or already flowering once spring arrives
Reading Time: 2 minutes Conditions are favourable this year for some excellent post-harvest weed control, says a provincial crop specialist. “Winter annuals are weeds that germinate in the fall or late fall, go through the winter in a rosette form, and go to seed quickly once spring comes,” said Harry Brook. Common winter annuals include stinkweed, shepherd’s purse, scentless […] Read more
Poisonous weed found in Alberta canola fields
Devil’s trumpet is highly poisonous, but poses little risk when processed into canola meal or oil
Reading Time: 4 minutes There’s still more questions than answers after a highly toxic prohibited weed was found in canola fields in three counties in north-central Alberta. Devil’s trumpet — also called jimsonweed — has been confirmed in Barrhead, Leduc, and Westlock counties, but how it got there and how widespread the problem is remains a mystery. “It would […] Read more
A bad year for crops has been a good one for weeds
Dry conditions have allowed weeds — including herbicide-resistant ones — to thrive in many fields
Reading Time: 3 minutes Although dry conditions made weed control a challenge during the 2015 growing season, late-summer moisture and an early harvest may give farmers a decent chance to control perennial weeds. “I’ve heard it said that 80 to 90 per cent of successful weed elimination comes from a competitive crop,” said Matt Gosling, an agronomist in the […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
