Roadside Spraying

May 10, 2023

As part of the region's vegetation management program working alongside the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry will be spraying noxious weeds. 

The work is scheduled to start May 15 and should be completed mid-June, depending on weather conditions. 

Information about the program, roads and guiderails that will be treated, how to erect “no spray” signs in front of your property and notify the Counties of signs can be found at sdgcounties.ca/services/transportation/weed-control.

Quick Facts

• The main purpose of the Weed Control Act, R.S.O. 1990, is to reduce the impact of noxious weeds on the industries of agriculture and horticulture. 
• In 2023, the Counties will be treating approximately 800 kilometres of ditches
• Residents can digitally identify where they have installed ‘no-spray’ signs on the Counties’ website. This information will be provided to the contractor

Important Links

County Website Press Release: https://www.sdgcounties.ca/discover-our-communities/news-notices/weed-spraying-sdg-start-may-15

County Weed Control Page: https://www.sdgcounties.ca/services/transportation/weed-control

 Alternative Notice: https://www.sdgcounties.ca/sites/default/files/2023-05/2023%20Alternate%20Notice%20Form_County_Final%20Approved.pdf

 SDG County Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SDGCounties

Purpose of Roadside Spraying

In agricultural areas we are required to keep roadsides free of undesirable weeds.

One of the ways the Roads Department manages roadside vegetation is by mowing. We attempt to mow all our unmaintained ditches from shoulder to the fence line (depending on steepness of the ditch and weather conditions) once a year. Mowing begins in May/June and finishes in October. Unfortunately, mowing is the wrong thing to do for certain weeds.

The Roads Department uses selective herbicides in order to help control the growth of undesirable vegetation. The contractor performing the work is licensed to apply herbicides and sprays very specific areas throughout the South Glengarry road system.

No Spray Signs

If you do not want the ditches in front of your property to be sprayed, landowners must post ‘no spray' signs at the start and finish of the property. The signs must be at least 1 foot by 2 feet in size and be easy to read from the shoulder of the road (about 3 feet from the edge of the gravel shoulder). Spraying is not planned if you mow the ditch in front of your property on a regular basis (if the roadside ditch is maintained similar to your front lawn).

Spraying is planned to occur from the edge of the gravel shoulder to approximately 1 metre from the fence line.