Weeds & Pests

The Alberta Weed Control Act requires landowners to control weeds on their property and sets out rules for how specific weeds must be dealt with. This means that landowners are required by law to control the weeds on their property.

Weed Inspectors

Our Weed Inspectors travel around the County and visit with residents. When they see a problem weed, they will talk to the landowner or leave a business card to discuss dealing with the weed problem.

Problem Weeds in Vulcan County

The following weeds are increasing in prevalence within our county and are our main priority for control:

  • Canada Thistle
  • Kochia
  • Yellow Toadflax
  • Leafy Spurge
  • Scentless Chamomile
  • Perennial Sow Thistle
  • Russian Knapweed
  • Absinth Wormwood
  • Baby’s Breath

Noxious Weeds

  • Baby’s-Breath, common
  • Bellflower, creeping
  • Bindweed, field
  • Blueweed
  • Brome, downy
  • Brome, japanese
  • Burdock, great
  • Burdock, lesser
  • Burdock, woolly
  • Buttercup, tall
  • Chamomile, scentless
  • Clematis, yellow
  • Cockle, white
  • Daisy, oxeye
  • Dame’s rocket
  • Henbane, black.
  • Hoary cress, globe-podded
  • Hound’s-tongue
  • Mullein, common
  • Pepper-grass, broad-leaved
  • Scabious, field
  • Sow Thistle, perennial
  • Spurge, Leafy
  • Tansy, common
  • Thistle, Canada
  • Toadflax, dalmatian
  • Toadflax, yellow

Prohibited Noxious Weeds

Weeds that are in this category (regardless of the size of the infestation) must be controlled immediately as stated in the Alberta Weed Control Act.  The weeds in this category are considered rare in Vulcan County which is why they are of high importance to control so they do not get established in our area.  Listed below is the list of prohibited noxious weeds.

  • Autumn Olive
  • Balsam, Himalayan
  • Barberry, Common
  • Bartsia, Red
  • Buckthorn, Common
  • Cinquefoil, Sulphur
  • Crupina, Common
  • Dyer’s Woad
  • Eurasian Water Milfoil
  • Flowering Rush
  • Garlic Mustard
  • Goatgrass, Jointed
  • Hawkweed, Meadow
  • Hawkweed, Mouse-ear
  • Hawkweed, Orange.
  • Hoary Alyssum
  • Hogweed, Giant
  • Iris, pale yellow
  • Knapweed, Bighead
  • Knapweed, Black
  • Knapweed, Brown
  • Knapweed, Diffuse
  • Knapweed, Hybrid
  • Knapweed, Meadow
  • Knapweed, Russian
  • Knapweed, Spotted
  • Knapweed, Squarrose
  • Knapweed, Tyrol
  • Knotweed, Giant
  • Knotweed, Hybrid Japanese
  • Knotweed, Japanese 
  • Loosestrife, Purple
  • Medusahead 
  • Nutsedge, Yellow
  • Puncturevine
  • Ragwort, Tansy
  • Rush Skeletonweed
  • Saltcedar
  • Saltlover
  • St John’s-wort, Common
  • Starthistle, Yellow.
  • Thistle, Marsh
  • Thistle, Nodding
  • Thistle, Plumeless

For a fact sheet including pictures, please visit the Alberta Invasive Species – Invasive Plants webpage.  

For more information on weeds in Vulcan County or to
inquire about weed spraying services, contact (403) 485-3103.