Greenview’s commitment to environmentally responsible vegetation management is long-standing. The municipality is responsible for many areas within Grande Cache; all public parks, Greenview-owned vacant lots, road right of ways and boulevards, and assisting Grande Cache residents in managing invasive plant issues.
Grande Cache is surrounded by amazing and beautiful flora and fauna, which is why Greenview emphasizes minimizing the impact of invasive plants to benefit biodiversity. Protecting this biodiversity ensures appropriate resources for native bees, big horn sheep, deer, elk, and fish. Allowing scentless chamomile, dandelions, Canada thistle, or any other invasive plants to overtake parts of the hamlet and work their way into these green spaces is something we must remain vigilant in preventing. Greenview is also partnering with Alberta Forestry, Tourism and Parks to address invasive plant infestations along many of the trails Grande Cache is fortunate to have.
The Agricultural Services Department would like to thank the residents of Grande Cache who have shown their commitment to this shared priority by working with our Beautification division to control weed infestations – be that through participating in the Scentless Chamomile picking program, through their weed control efforts, or in allowing Greenview staff to assist them at no charge. With the community’s vigilance and dedication to this shared responsibility, we can safeguard the green spaces Grande Cache is fortunate to be surrounded by, ensuring they remain vibrant and diverse for generations to come.
Should salt, vinegar, and dish soap be used as weed killers?
We would encourage residents using salt, vinegar, and dish soap as weed control to seek advice, support, and assistance from Greenview Agricultural Services on methods that are effective, as opposed to myths that are simplistic. There is a history of utilizing these agents for weed control within the hamlet, and the damage caused to the environment is difficult, if not impossible, to correct. More information is provided below:
- Salt, when used as an herbicide, is exceedingly damaging to the soil of an area. It causes the soil to hold onto water, not allowing plants to take the water up and is highly toxic to plants. Elevated levels of salinity lock up nutrients for plants, killing or inhibiting their growth – these traits are why they are not considered an environmentally friendly herbicide. The problem is salt cannot be effectively removed from the soil; instead, it leaches out of the area, impacting everything as it moves, including our waterways and is harmful to fish. These impacts are of high concern within the hamlet of Grande Cache, as many of the local creeks, streams and rivers are habitats for native trout populations. These populations attract anglers from across Canada, contributing to the economic well-being of Grande Cache.
- Vinegar has been promoted as an effective environmental herbicide by many well-intentioned home gardeners. When considering vinegar, it is essential to remember that it is acid. Acid breaks down cellular walls and can kill soil organisms, including worms and microorganisms, contributing to healthy plant communities. Vinegar is also damaging to birds, bees, frogs, toads, and other creatures due to its acidic nature.
- Dish Soap has been mentioned as an herbicide but is ineffective for controlling unwanted vegetation. Dish soap is often used with tested herbicides to ensure the herbicide sticks to the treated plant’s leaves. In this respect, it is excellent.
For more detailed information on gardening myths and eco-conscious gardening, check out the website, *Empress of Dirt*, which works to dispel gardening myths, among many other things:
For more information on the herbicides used in Grande Cache, please visit the following links:
Trillion – SDS
Trillion – Label
Clearview – SDS
Clearview – Label
Pyralid – SDS
Pyralid – Label
Round-Up Weathermax – SDS
Round-Up Weathermax – Label
Esplanade – Label
Esplanade – SDS
If residents are curious about the herbicides Beautification uses to control weeds within the hamlet, please contact the Manager of Agricultural Services for further information at 780-524-7658 or visit our website at https://mdgreenview.ab.ca/departments/agricultural-services/overvi
