The Weedbusters Inc., was Established in 1984 and has grown into a full service lawn Care Professional under the Banner of Nature’s Choice Lawn Care and Irrigation. We specialize in the safe removal of noxious weeds, as outlined by the Province of Ontario. Clients include Several Municipalities, Hospitals, Government Facilities and random areas where these weeds developed naturally over the years. Ensuring the safest removal / disposal and elimination of seed spread is critical.
Please consult our Professional at 519-842-9357 and do not attempt removal yourself, because in some instances highly allergic reaction or blindness could occur.
Vegetation Control
Excessive vegetation growth on your property can lead to any number of problems, including unsightly appearances, unsanitary conditions, fire hazards and employee discomfort. We offer a wide variety of environmentally sound chemical vegetation controls.
Exterior Building Maintenance, Hydro stations, Gas Wells, Fence Lines, Electrical Stations.
Hog Weed Removal
What is Giant Hogweed?
Giant Hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum) is a perennial plant that can grow 4 – 6 metres (15 – 20 feet) tall and has stout, dark reddish-purple stems with spotted leaf stalks.
Where is Giant Hogweed Found?
Giant Hogweed may colonize in a variety of habitats but is commonly found along roadsides, wooded open space areas between residential communities, streams, and rivers. It prefers moist soils and partial shade; however, it may grow in full shade to full sun.
Why is Giant Hogweed Dangerous?
The plant produces a clear watery sap from the leaves and especially the stem. The sap contains furanocoumarin that causes the skin to be photosensitive. After contact with Giant Hogweed, exposure to sunlight may cause severe blistering, burns, and sometimes inflamed linear lesions on the skin. The blisters can develop into purplish or blackened scars. These reactions can occur up to 48 hours after contact and can lead to recurrent dermatitis in some cases. Avoid contact with eyes as temporary or permanent blindness can result.
Control Methods
The preferred method of control is Integrated Pest Management (IPM). The goal of IPM is to maximize effective control and minimize negative environmental, economic and social impacts.
Wild Parsnip (Pastinaca sativa)
DESCRIPTION: Wild parsnip is a member of the Umbelliferae (parsnip) family. Rosettes grow close to the ground and bear leaves averaging six inches in height. The plant has a long, thick taproot, which is edible. Flowering plants produce a single, thick stem that contains hundreds of yellow umbellate flowers. The lateral flowers often overtop the terminal flowers. Depending on the habitat and growing conditions, individual flowering plants range to over four feet in height. Leaves are alternate, pinnately compound, branched, and have saw-toothed edges. Each leaf has 5-15 ovate to oblong leaflets with variable toothed edges and deep lobes.
Wild parsnip can be confused with prairie parsley (Polytaenia nuttallii), a native prairie species listed as threatened in Wisconsin. Its flowers and leaves resemble those of wild parsnip. Comparatively, flowers of the prairie parsley plant are light-yellow, sparse, and typically found at the end of the stem. The leaves are pinnately compound like those of the wild parsnip, but are oblong with few teeth.
DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT: Wild parsnip is tolerant of a wide range of conditions, including dry, mesic, and wet-mesic prairies; oak openings; and calcareous fens. It is shade- intolerant and prefers sunny conditions.
LIFE HISTORY AND EFFECTS OF INVASION: Wild parsnip can cause phytophotodermatitis to the skin. If the plant juices come in contact with skin in the presence of sunlight, a rash and/or blistering can occur, as well as skin discoloration that may last several months.
This species reproduces readily from seed. Seeds are fairly large and many are produced on one plant. As a monocarpic perennial, wild parsnip spends one or more years as a basal rosette. When conditions are favorable, it flowers, produces seed, and dies. Look for the large, coarse, flower spikes and yellow flowers from the first of June to the middle of July (although some plants may continue flowering through late summer). Optimal growing conditions apparently stimulate an increase in flowering. Seeds take at least three weeks from flowering to become viable.
Wild parsnip slowly invades an area in waves following initial infestation. Once the population builds, it spreads rapidly. This species is an aggressive, Eurasian weed that frequently invades and modifies a variety of open habitats.
Poison Ivy
Distribution in Ontario
Poison-ivy (Rhus radicans L.) is widespread throughout southern Ontario and reaches north approximately as far as Cochrane and Kenora. It is found most abundantly, however, south of a line from the north shore of Lake Huron through North Bay. This includes the densely populated portions of the province and the popular vacation areas. The plant is often mistakenly called “poison oak”, but the true poison oak occurs only in the southern and Pacific states of the U.S.A. and not in Ontario.
Poison-ivy is extremely variable in both its habit of growth and kinds of habitat. It grows in deep woods or in the open; in dry, sandy areas, crevices of rocks, or swamps; along the borders of woods, fencerows, or roadsides. You are not safe even in your own garden, and you may be surprised to find it growing in your flower beds or shrubbery. Usually it is found in low-growing, rather dense colonies, sometimes practically carpeting the ground. In the counties bordering Lake Erie, there is also a vine form which twines around and climbs up trees, shrubs and posts, often reaching several metres (yards) above the ground.
Description
Poison-ivy is a woody perennial. It may grow as dwarf, shrubby plants only a few centimetres high and carpeting the ground, or as upright plants 60-90 cm (2-3 ft) high, or the vine-like form may twine around trees, shrubs and posts, and reach a considerable distance above the ground. These vines often develop root-like structures which act as attachments, but apparently do not damage the living plants to which they cling.
“Leaflets three – Let it be!”
Dust Control
Commercial Gravel parking lots, and long country lanes can be a bit dusty from time to time, especially during peak seasons and when it has been particularly dry. Appling a Liquid Brine with binding compound can be applied to help aid on dust control. Our services have been used on construction sites, Long Laneways, and Commercial Parking yards.
Mosquito Control
Information coming soon!
Fiesta Untreated
Feista Weed Control
Fiesta Lawn Weed Killer
- Selective Broadleaf Weed Killer
- Moss and Algae Killer
- For use on Lawns & Turf
- Made with Iron
- No Unpleasant Odour
- People & Pets Can Enter Area When Spray Dries
- Approved For Use in Ontario
Fiesta Treated
On Earth Day 2009 the Ontario Government’s ban on the cosmetic use of pesticides came into effect. The ban removed many pesticides from the tool box of the lawn care professionals. The results have not always been good. While good management of turf will help to exclude weeds there are times when weed control products are very useful. Several years prior to the ban on the cosmetic use of pesticides, Neudorff – seeing the increasing pressure being put on governments at all levels to ban the cosmetic use of pesticides – recognized the need for alternatives. With many low-risk products already on the market, Neudorff continued the development of products that could be used to control pests where pesticide bans were in effect. In 2010 the launch of Fiesta, an iron based herbicide, sent shockwaves through the lawn care industry and demand surpassed expectations. Why? Finally the lawn care professionals had a tool that approached the banned products in effectiveness and was approved for use in Ontario. Not only that, they found that Fiesta works more quickly and works well even in cooler weather. Now the homeowners of Ontario can rest assured that the lawn care professionals once again have a tool to effectively deal with troublesome weeds such as dandelion, black medick and common chickweed. For more information please call your local lawn care professional.
Tim Tripp
Product Manager
Neudorff North America
