By East Kootenay Invasive Species Council

Spring is here in the East Kootenay, and you can feel it! Garden plans are being sketched out, seedlings are taking over kitchen tables, and those trips to the garden centre are becoming a regular thing again.

It’s an exciting time of year, and one small but powerful thing you can do as a gardener is simple: know before you grow.

Many invasive plants are still sold in stores and can hide in plain sight on the shelves. Others sneak in through “wildflower” seed mixes that aren’t designed with our region in mind.

Species like baby’s breath, bachelor’s button, oxeye daisy, and even hawkweeds can be included in these mixes or sold individually, despite their ability to spread and cause real ecological harm.

That’s where the Grow Me Instead guide comes in.

It’s an easy, go-to resource that helps you spot common invasive plants and offers non-invasive and often native alternatives that are just as beautiful and much better suited to our local environment.

Choosing the right plants helps protect biodiversity, supports pollinators and wildlife, and prevents unwanted spread into our forests, grasslands, and waterways. Bringing a guide with you when you shop, reading seed mix ingredients carefully, and asking questions at your local nursery can go a long way.

With just a bit of awareness, you can create a thriving garden that not only looks great but also supports the health of the East Kootenay’s ecosystems.

Find more info on Plantwise Resources.

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