City of Ottawa doubles down to weed out wild parsnip

The City of Ottawa isdoublingthe money it's spending to fight wild parsnip this year, as it tries to keep the invasive weed from spreading further.

In 2015 the same year Ontario officially labelled wild parsnipa noxiousweed the city embarked on a pilot project to map the plant's spread,and try to contain it by mowing and spraying herbicides.

Wild parsnip has become a big concernbecause theplant's toxic sap can cause skin rashes. The weed also wipes out other species, including pollinators that attractbees.

The infestation in Ottawa is growing, according to areport to thecity's agriculture and rural affairs committee.

"We aren't evergoing to eradicate the plant in its entirety," said Laila Gibbons,the city's manager of parks, building and ground services. "What we're trying to is help stop the spread of the plant across the city."

Budget nearly doubled

The2016 city budget allots $198,000 to continue developing a plan to do that, up from $100,000 in 2015.

Research last year found mowing alone did not prevent wild parsnip from spreading, and staff now believe a herbicide willgive the best results when sprayed in mid- to late-May.

"The thing about mowing is we only have a good two- or three-week span as to whenwe have tohit this plant," said Coun. Scott Moffatt, who chairs the committee.

"It's massive geography and you have to mow every single ditch within a two- to three-week period. It's unmanageable. It's not about cost."

This year, the city will begin spraying the herbicide Clearview in May.

'Ground zero'

Property owners, such as organic gardeners, are allowed to opt out if their land abuts city land that's earmarked for spraying.

Moffatt who calls his own ward "ground zero" for wild parsnip said residents in rural areas areadept at dealing with the weed on their own property.

"As long as we take care of our end of the bargain, that will reduce the need for any private citizen to do it on their own property," said Moffatt.

The city is also pledging to work cooperativelywithGatineau, the National Capital Commission and neighbouring counties, all grappling with the problem of wild parsnip.