Canada goldenrod

Canadian goldenrod is an alien invasive plant species for the Republic of Belarus. It is included in the list of particularly dangerous invasive plant species. Some people grow it on their household plots and around their houses. However, it is forbidden to use goldenrod in landscaping.
 
Uncontrolled spread of this species leads to the suppression and even complete displacement of other plants from natural ecosystems. In meadow and floodplain ecosystems where goldenrod settles, the composition and structure of hayfields change, the quality of harvested hay significantly deteriorates (cattle do not eat it), while large, stiff sods are formed, the development of which hinders the growth of many economically useful plants, and the structure and aeration process of soils change. In floodplain meadow communities, goldenrod poses a threat to populations of many rare and endangered plant species, as well as disrupts the structure of crops and reduces crop yields.

However, it should be noted that, first and foremost, Canadian goldenrod is an allergenic aggressive plant; each individual produces more than 20,000 seeds (with a germination rate of 50-90%), which pose a threat to human health by increasing the incidence of diseases, as goldenrod pollen provokes allergic reactions in people. (Blooms in July – September, seeds ripen in August – October).

Control measures for goldenrod include mowing twice a year (in May and August) and, most importantly, timely removal and disposal of mowed plants, as seeds can ripen on the ground and germinate the following year. Good results are achieved by digging the soil in the summer during dry weather, and the use of herbicides is also effective when the plants are no more than 10-15 cm tall, as goldenrod's sensitivity to them significantly decreases later.