Weeds be gone

Yesterday, we attended a presentation regarding weeds that are typical to Manitoba - and many are specific to Riel House. Motherwort and Common Burdock are our two worst offenders because their burs are difficult to remove from one's clothing, work gloves, dogs, etc.

Motherwort - 27 April 2017

Common Burdock - 27 April 2017

Below is the list of weeds that we reviewed last night. You can find further information at the Province of Manitoba website at https://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/crops/weeds/:

• Motherwort
• Common Burdock
• CanadaThistle
• PerennialSowthistle
• Annual Sowthistle
• CommonGroundsel
• Goosefoot Family – Lamb’s Quarters, Oak-leaved Goosefoot, Maple-leaved Goosefoot
• Smartweed
• Chickweed
• Red RootPigweed
• BarnyardGrass

Also, three beautiful but very invasive weeds: Himalayan Balsam, Creeping Bellflower and 

Dame’s Rocket; the "Three Barbarians". Fortunately, at Riel House House, we have some Creeping Bellflower, but not the other two.

Although we are keen to remove all weeds and discard them (not in the compost), the presenter recommended that for the sake of biodiversity, we should set aside an area to keep some weeds as long as we minimize them going to seed. Looks like we have our work cut out for us. 

Thank you IK for your presentation and recommendations.