A pesky plant has been growing in the Halifax area, and residents are being asked to remove it when they find it on their properties.
Japanese knotweed, which was originally planted as an ornamental, has a stalk that looks similar to bamboo, large heart-shaped leaves, and can grow to be several feet high. It can even grow through concrete, so could quickly get out of control. It often overruns areas, pushing out the native plants that many animals need to survive.
It has been stated that even a little piece of the plant’s root can produce shoots that allow it to spread. It has been spotted in various locations throughout the city, and it is beginning to be found in different spots around the Halifax Regional Municipality, such as Lunenburg.
According to Doug van Hemessen, the Nova Scotia stewardship coordinator with the Nature Conservancy of Canada, knotweed can be especially bad for amphibians such as frogs, as it can grow in wetlands, choking out the plants that would otherwise attract the insects that the creatures need to eat. Poster printing firms can create Signs that let people know what the plant looks like, so they can identify it easily.
Area residents who find this invasive species on municipal property are being asked to call 311 and report it, so that someone can be dispatched to come out and remove the knotweed before it takes over.Get a Free Quote for Signs
