A problem plant: St. John's gardeners struggle against goutweed
St. John's woman worries about invasive plant in the community
After fighting goutweed in her garden for years, Angela Way is concerned about it out in the community and wants to see an organised provincial response.
Way has been fighting the plant in her St. John's garden since 2021. And though it may look unsuspecting, goutweed is an invasive plant to North America that plagues gardeners all over Canada.
Native to Europe and Asia, likely brought to North America as ornamental ground cover, goutweed is a difficult pest to eradicate — and it's still for sale in garden centres across the country.
With spiderweb-like rhizomes that can spread up to 300 centimetres horizontally, even the tiniest node left behind can start the growth all over again.
It's often unknowingly spread through gift plants, or is already present in gardens.
"Once it's in there, you have to get in there and take out every part of that plant. It's not just a matter of cutting off the top," said Tim Walsh, horticulturist and nursery manager at Memorial University's Botanical Garden.
Walsh said being quick and persistent with the plant is key.
He recommends digging out the plant, consistently snipping away at it, or preventing its access to sunshine through tarping. Chemical herbicides are always a last resort, he said.
"Never let the plant win," Walsh said.
Much of Way's garden is now covered in black tarps in an attempt to fight the plant. She said she'll have to leave them down for two to three years.
Way has had to resort to using herbicides, too, something she'd hoped to avoid.
"I really didn't want to do that, but I don't know what else to do," she said.
Seeking more support
Way finds comfort and advice in a goutweed support group on Facebook, with over 9,000 members and counting.
"It's been fun, entertaining, heartbreaking at the same time," she said.
But, she wishes there was provincewide support.
"It's still being sold and it's an invasive species and it shouldn't be for sale. So, I would love to see Newfoundland, for one, ban the sale of it," said Way.
She also said that homeowners deserve to know what they're getting into. Buying her home in the wintertime, she didn't know she had the weed until spring.
The Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture for Newfoundland and Labrador said that while it's classed as an invasive plant, goutweed isn't regulated or monitored by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. However, it is controlled in commercial agricultural operations in the province.
Way sees support systems in other provinces, and hopes Newfoundland and Labrador can achieve the same.
The Ontario Invasive Plant Council is a non-profit organization that provides support and resources for those impacted by invasive plants, including goutweed.
Vicki Simkovic, the council's program coordinator, says it's possible elsewhere.
"There's a number of councils now across Canada, and a lot of it just starts with a passionate person who really sees the need for something like this," she said.
Beyond a backyard issue
Right now, Walsh said gardens, rather than Newfoundland's wildlife, are most at risk. But Way is concerned about goutweed in non-residential areas as well.
She said she has spotted the plant in areas around St. John's like Kent's Pond.
"The more you know about it, the more you see it," Way said.
It's a long battle, but Way isn't giving up.
"It's basically my whole back yard," she said. "I'm going to try my best, and hope I can be persistent and get through it."
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