2014 British Columbia Invasive Plant Survey ResultsElaine LumMiami University

How Does Your Garden Grow?

Collect information about• Source of gardening information• Yard disposal• Types of invasive plants grown• Awareness of invasive plants

Survey Goals

Who took the survey?

Male24%

Female73%

Other3%

Number of years gardening

Age of participants (years)

Total participants: 159

% surveyed

Where do BC gardeners get their information?

Internet Sources

Where do BC gardeners get their information?

Print Sources

% surveyed

Where do BC gardeners get their information?

People Sources % surveyed

How do BC gardeners dispose of their yard wastes?

Putting yard waste in green waste collection helps

ensure that invasive plant species are

properly disposed of.

% surveyed

How do BC gardeners dispose of their yard wastes?

Use heavy trash bags to contain all parts of invasive

plants, making sure no parts poke through, for

proper disposal.

% surveyed

How do BC gardeners dispose of their yard wastes?

Burning plant waste is best left to the landfill as some airborne seeds of invasive plants can disperse during burning to spread into the

wild.

% surveyed

How do BC gardeners dispose of their yard wastes?

Backyard composting of invasive plants is

not recommended as it is difficult to achieve the

right temperature to ensure all invasive plant

seeds are no longer viable.

% surveyed

How do BC gardeners dispose of their yard wastes?

Dumping invasive plant material in green spaces

can cause damage to sensitive ecosystems

through the germination of seeds or vegetative growth

of cuttings.Rusterholz, Wirz, Baur, & Verheyen (2012).

% surveyed

What are the top 5 invasive plant species found in BC gardens?

Click to find native alternatives

Other invasive plant species found in BC gardens

Did you know?6 invasive plant species alone have caused $65 million in damage to BC ecosystems. Frid, Knowler, Murray, Myers & Scott, 2009

How aware are BC gardeners about community programs about invasive plants?

On the whole, most BC gardeners were aware of the

Invasive Species Council of BC but were less aware of the

PlantWise and Grow Me Instead community programs. Approximately 1/3 of

respondents had made a commitment to be PlantWise.

Click on the images to find out more

What do you think?

What should be done to help gardeners identify invasive plants in their gardens?

Please share your thoughts in the comments section below

Should labelling of potentially invasive plant species be mandatory in garden centers and nurseries?

Should the government go even further and ban the sale of potentially invasive plants?

Please watch the video on BC invasive species coming up next

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank the following organizations for their support in promoting the 2014 BC Invasive Plant Survey:

• Invasive Species Council of BC and its regional associations• BC Communities in Bloom• Community Gardens of BC• Master Gardeners’ Association of BC• Natural Lifestyle Creations• Northword magazine

References

Fall Garden Clean-Up: Proper Disposal of Invasive Plants. (2014). Retrieved September 27, 2014, from http://bcinvasives.ca/news-events/media/articles/fall-garden-clean-up-proper-disposal-of-invasive-plants/

Frid, L., Knowler, D., Murray, C., Myers, J., & Scott, L. (2009). Economic Impacts of Invasive Plants in British Columbia: Prepared for the Invasive Species Council of British Columbia. Vancouver, British Columbia.

Invasive Species Council of British Columbia. (2016). Retrieved from http://bcinvasives.ca/

Lum, E. (2014). Invasive plant survey of consumer awareness and behaviour in British Columbia, Canada. (Global Field Program), Miami University, Oxford, Ohio.

Province of BC. (2015). September 30, Invaders! Invasive Species in BC. [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4Ds8aFh8hM

Rusterholz, H.-P., Wirz, D., Baur, B., & Verheyen, K. (2012). Garden waste deposits as a source for non-native plants in mixed deciduous forests. Applied Vegetation Science, 15(3), 329-337.