Community Stewardship Program - City of Toronto Urban Forestry Personal Journal

My journal of education/training, invasive species removal (weeding), planting, and other activities while volunteering with Community Stewardship Program – City of Toronto

Invasive species on site, identification and removal tips (Riverdale Park East)

Bedstraw
- Sticky
Buckthorn - woody, looks like small dots on bark
- Removal: if large, chop near bottom of trunk
Burdock - burs that needs to be removed
- Removal: hand pull, thick stems requiring excavator to removed
Burdock - has burrs, seeds
Canada Thistle - it is from Europe despite its name, sharp leaves and stems
Cat tail
Dog strangling vine (DSV) - expanding vine
Erect hedge parsley
European / Common Buckthorn:
- Berries: female
- Matching stems
- Removal: Cut parts that provide photosynthesis or uproot if possible and turn upside down to prevent re-rooting
Garlic mustard
- Red stem
- Smells like garlic when crushed
- Leaves: first year: dark green kidney shaped; second year: sharp toothed
Norway maple
Phragmites aka European fern - thin stem, long leaves
- Removal: using spading under roots at 45 degree angle
Queen Anne’s Lace aka wild carrot
- Has braks, sticky seeds
Purple deadnettle aka red dead nettle
- Pinkish flower
- Leaves: heart shaped
Siberia squill - blue flower
Tansy - frilly leaves, yellow flowers

Removal of plants with seeds: before removal, cut off seeds and dispose of separately in bucket / garbage bags. Other parts of invasive species can be composted.

Planting Tips

Safety: Be careful for tripping hazards, deadfall, and fire ants. Fire ants will give off a lemon smell. Keep shovel and tools down when moving.

Remove plant identification tag
Dig hole slightly larger than plant and its roots
Plants should sit level with soil when planted
Remove air pockets, tap down sides of soil
Tug test: after planting, give plant a light tug to ensure it is in the soil and should not come out of the soil

If planting on slope, plant must face upward and perpendicular to level ground:

Plant facing up
     /\     _________
     /\    /
     /\  _/ slope
     | _/
     |/
     /
    /
------------------- Level ground

Riverdale Park East 2026

2026-05

Planting of native plants (shrub and trees) in under story (shaded area below trees) and light wooded area with sunlight:
- Milk weed
- Limebark
- Black rasberry
- Zigzag golden rod (shady area)
Early May: Prefer removal of garlic mustard before it flowers
Removal of purple deadnettle aka red dead neetle and bedstraw
Observed: worms, fire ants (lemon smell), cooper’s hawk, snails, blackbird
- Native plants: wild ginger from previous planting

Riverdale Park East 2025

Leaf and Plant Identification 2025-08

Compound, partial

Flower: irregular, regular
Look at number of petals like 5
Type: wildflower, shrub
Leaf stem, steeple, can be identifier
Smell

Use field guides

Toronto has man non-native plants, though focus of sessions is on invasive plants that impact the environment. Learning characteristics of a family helps with identifing and understanding ecology.

2025-06/07

Planting of native plants

“Catepillar count” - assessment of insect, arthopod life in environment to check health of area

Removal of phragmites, Canada thistle, burdock, Queen Anne’s Lace, Erect hedge parsley, tansy

2025-05

Removal of garlic mustard, bed straw, red dead nettle

2025-04 Orientation

Warnings on dangers on site: fire ants (lemon smell), ticks, plants with thorns, poison ivy, as well as weather like heat

Site history: former waste site, flood plain, program has work on forested areas and planting

Riverdale Part East 2019

Weeding and education on variety of plants:

Bedstraw
Dog strangling vine
Phragmites
- Usually grows near water
Garlic mustard
Japanese Knotweed
European buckthorn
Norway maple

Planted forest near fence area close to soccer pitch