Weed Control and Invasive Species

Noxious Weeds

Noxious weeds are harmful to humans and animals and can greatly affect crops and our natural environment. The Township of Ramara responds to concerns related to noxious weeds as outlined by the Weed Control Act of Ontario. Noxious weeds found on municipal property are reviewed based on risk and location assessments and manually or chemically controlled with registered and licensed products where required.

Under the Weed Control Act of Ontario, property owners are responsible for taking action to control noxious weeds on their property. If you decide to take measures to control these plants, regardless of the method used, wear protective clothing and goggles to cover exposed skin and protect your eyes.

Report an Issue on Municipal Property

Invasive Species

In Ontario, the Invasive Species Act aims to prevent and control the spread of invasive species. The Invasive Species Act sets out rules to prevent and control the spread of invasive species. Species regulated under the act pose a risk to Ontario's natural environment.

Invasive Species in Ramara

The main invasive species found in Ramara is the Invasive Phragmites (also known as Common Reed). The photo on the right is a picture of an Invasive Phragmites. (Photo Credit: Invasive Species Centre)

How to identify Phragmites?

Although it grows mostly in wetlands, it can also be found in roadside ditches, beaches, and dunes. Identifying it can be challenging as it shares similar features and habitats with its native counterpart.

Phragmites is a robust, erect perennial grass that can grow to 4 m in height (occasionally 6 m) and has an extensive rhizome system. It has rigid, many-noded stems and hollow internodes. Its leaves are alternate and up to 70 cm long, with a ligule of hairs up to 1.5 mm long. The leaf blades are flat, up to 60 cm long, and 8-60 mm wide.

Invasive Phragmites	Native Phragmites
Stands can grow up to 5 metres tall (15 feet) in very dense strands with up to 200 stems per square metre. Stems are generally tan or beige in colour, with blue-green leaves and large dense seedheads. Credit: Invasive Species Centre	Stands do not grow as tall and does not outcompete other native species. Has reddish-brown stems, yellow-green leaves, and smaller, sparser seedheads. Credit: Invasive Species Centre

Invasive Phragmites

Native Phragmites

Stands can grow up to 5 metres tall (15 feet) in very dense strands with up to 200 stems per square metre.
Stems are generally tan or beige in colour, with blue-green leaves and large dense seedheads.

Credit: Invasive Species Centre

Stands do not grow as tall and does not outcompete other native species.
Has reddish-brown stems, yellow-green leaves, and smaller, sparser seedheads.

Credit: Invasive Species Centre

What can you do?

The Township is requesting the community’s help in advising areas where invasive phragmites can be found. The Phragmites Reporting Tool can be used to report sightings in order for staff to track data and create an action plan to remediate them.

Report Invasive Phragmites sighting

What else can you do to control invasive phragmites

Do not plant invasive phragmites. Native phragmites has the same appearance and does not pose an ecological risk.
Use only native or non-invasive plants in your garden and ask garden centres for plants that are not invasive.
Stay on designated trails. Leaving trails or entering areas containing invasive stands can encourage the spread of this plant. When leaving an area containing invasive phragmites, brush off clothing and clean equipment onsite to avoid the transfer of seeds to new areas. Remove all visible portions of plants and dispose of them in the garbage.
Do not compost invasive phragmites. Both seeds and rhizomes (horizontal plant stems growing underground) can survive and grow in compost.
In Ontario, it is illegal to import, deposit, release, breed/grow, buy, sell, lease or trade invasive phragmites, as it is restricted under the Invasive Species Act. For more information on handling invasive phragmites and other species in accordance with the Invasive Species Act, visit the Ontario government resource Managing Invasive Species in Ontario.

Credit: Information is directly from the Invasive Species Centre

For more information related to Invasive Phragmites or Invasive plants in Ontario, please visit Invasive Species Centre website.