UPDATED September 7, 2012 - Huge growth at the Corley/Woodbine bus stop, lots more on Osborne and the school grounds

Hello Beach Toronto residents.  Its that time again in the late summer when ragweed (Ambrosia spp.) starts to appear to bring tears to our eyes and sniffles to our noses. Ragweed pollen is highly allergenic, generally considered the greatest allergen of all pollens, and the prime cause of hay fever in North America (Wikepedia).

This year I am making a special effort to enhance your awareness of this designated noxious weed (http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/facts/ontweeds/weedgal3.htm#two) so we can all help get it under control. 

There are a couple of species that are fairly easy to identify by their deeply dissected leaves and vertical clusters of tiny yellowish flowers.  Other plants such as goosefoot are similar but don't have deeply dissected leaves. 

If you spot ragweed on your property try to get rid of it before it flowers.  Don't put it in your compost or yard bags.  Throw it out with the garbage.  Best ways to get rid of the plants are:

1. Place a bag over the plant and pull it out by its roots preferably before it starts to flower.  The bag will help you avoid getting covered in pollen.
2. If you can't yank it out snap off the stem / mow it and bag it then pour boiling water on it to kill it.  If it sprouts again keep cutting it off until it eventually gives up!
3. For those major infestations in your lawn - mow, mow, mow so it can't reproduce this year although the seed bank may still be huge.  if you can afford it, resod the lawn.  Last resort, use an environmentally friendly weed remover. 

I've been walking the Beach streets looking for patches of ragweed this past month.  I have seen it growing beside the sidewalks especially on the sidewalk side of hedges, fences or rock gardens, next to garages, along the property edge of corner lots, adjacent to parking lots, in lawns and near the ravine.   My map shows the latest approximate location of sitings.  Please let me know if you find more or have taken the initative to get rid of the ragweed.  Happy to help with identifcation too.. 

South of Kingston road, most of the infestations are spotty and could be removed quite easily.  Above Kingston Road however I have spotted huge infestations that are threatening to take over the whole front yard of some lots.  Noteworthy infestions include:

• Opposite Norway shool on Corley - corner lot with dozens of plants
• School yard of Kimberley School on Swanwick - several isolated plantsalong the fence
• Eastwood about two blocks east of Coxwell, north side - masses of plants in the lawns - SOME IMPROVEMENTS MADE HERE BY MOWING
• Virtual hedges on the west side of Main just north of Kingston road
• Big one on the Kew Beach School lot on Kippendavie

A large infestation on the north side of Kingston Road west of Main on the land occupied by some abandoned buildings has been mown.  YEAH!