Community in Bloom

By Elaine Macdonald

- by Elaine Macdonald

The City of Prince George is once again a “Community in Bloom” although this isn’t actually what the floral judges might expect.



Controlling dandelions leaves the City on the seesaw between what some residents view as controlling a nuisance plant, while others want the scenery left “as-is”. Still with an annual budget of just over 75 thousand dollars, keeping tabs on the yellow buds costs each and every resident of Prince George about a dollar a year.  The City’s “Pest Management Co-Ordinator” Cynthia Redman says the City is looking for a long term solution as current legislation doesn’t allow for blanket spraying of the boulevards and medians with chemicals.  “We can spot treat an area with Killex, but we are  looking towards  more organic solutions like using better fertilizers that promote a better turf, and giving the grass a higher cut.”  Redman goes on to say “Under the new Integrated Pest Management Act, we are only legally allowed to use chemicals once all other efforts have been exhausted.” The City only takes action if it is deemed the weeds are controlling 20% or more of the piece of property.  Looks like someone needs to do the math on this site!

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