Invasive Species

Perth, like many other municipalities across Canada, has suffered greatly from invasive species that present varying hazards to the trees and shrubs growing on both public and private properties. Climbing vines, like the Virginia Creeper, are often not native to Ontario but have been brought in by well meaning gardeners and now gone wild. You have seen the damage done, and OPT's efforts to combat invasive vines, in the previous page.

Other invasive plant species include the European Buckthorn shrub that also became a focus of our work. Growing around the trees, they act like stepping stones for the vines to attach to their branches. The buck thorn shoots become thick ground cover preventing natural species of plants from growing. OPT volunteers also tackled the Garlic Mustard plants growing profusely in the Perth Ecoforest just across the Tay Basin from the Crystal Palace.

Insect invasive species include the Spongy (LDD) Moth that defoliated many trees in 2021 and whose egg clusters OPT volunteers removed in the fall and winter to prevent a return infestation. Unfortunately OPT could do nothing about the Emerald Ash Borer that devastated ash trees on Gore Street and all over. Inoculations could have saved some trees but it appears the Ash tree is now gone from Perth.

The Dutch Elm Disease that devastated so many statley old elm trees across North America is also caused by an invasive bug that seemingly nobody could control. But in all the doom and gloom of bygone elm trees there are a few stunning survivors. At least two "Elder" elm trees continue to stand tall and proud in Perth's Stewart Park and one of them won a third prize in an Ontario wide photo contest held in 2024!  OPT will partner with Tree Trust to have their arborist come to give some TLC to one of our elm trees on the 12th July 2025. OPT will also partner with the Town of Perth to purchase and plant some young elm trees that have been developed by the University of Guelph to be resistant to the still deadly Dutch Elm Disease.

Further information about invasive species can be found by clicking on the buttons below.