Now that warm weather is here to stay, Edmontonians are noticing a growing number of yellow nuisance weeds – and city officials are fielding complaints over the high number of dandelions, but it’s an issue the city isn’t planning on cracking down on.
“In terms of types of complaints, we’re getting ‘Ok, can you get out and do more spraying of dandelions?’” Environmental manager Chris Saunders with the City of Edmonton said.
However, Saunders said the city follows the Weed Control Act, provincial law that changed in 2010 – it means the city doesn’t spray for nuisance weeds, including dandelions.
“It’s probably the most common weed there is, but because of deregulation we kind of have to put our resources where the law says we need to,” Saunders said.
Now, the city’s focus when it comes to aggressive weed control is on noxious weeds, or those that pose a direct threat to the environment.
Saunders said the city has some control over dandelions with mowing grass on city land. In 2013, the city said 4,300 acres was tackled in this way.
With files from Veronica Jubinville
