Weed & Pest Spraying Program

Beaumont is committed to maintaining safe and healthy urban environments. Since controlling weeds and harmful pests is important for ensuring the enjoyment and sustainability of our park spaces and trees, we have reintroduced the application of herbicides and pesticides for periodic use in problem areas. 

Prior to 2010, Beaumont contracted out spraying of green spaces. Limited spraying has been done since then on noxious weeds in outlying areas, and the result is increasing populations of broadleaf weeds and noxious species throughout Beaumont. Beaumont’s Parks Services, in consultation with an external contractor, believe that currently infested areas could be controlled by 2018 if proper care and attention are provided now. 

Noxious and Restricted Weed Control Notice



Weeds designated as noxious or restricted by Provincial legislation will be controlled as required. The threshold for Noxious Weeds is zero.

Throughout June, July, August, and September spraying (weather dependent and may take a couple of days to complete) will be done in Beaumont for noxious and restricted weeds. Broadleaf weeds will be sprayed in August and September as per the Beaumont Integrated Pest Management Policy.

Signs will be posted in the affected areas 24 hours prior to application and 48 hours following application. The PCP number of the substance used will be posted on the notification signs.

Information on the types of pesticide being applied under the pest application agreement is available through the Beaumont Parks and Facilities area at 780-929-2745.

For more information:

Email us or phone us at 780-929-8782.



Spraying Technique


Green spaces in Beaumont suffer from very high concentrations of broadleaf weeds, such as dandelions. We spray the spruce trees to control the spread and destruction caused by the yellow-headed spruce sawfly.

Spraying will not take place within 30 meters of a playground or daycare, or in the flood zone surrounding any water body or waterway, including Storm Water Management Facilities.

Signs will be placed around the proposed spraying area a minimum of 24 hours prior to spraying and 48 hours after spraying.

Additional Resources


For more information, check out the FAQ document (PDF).

Yellowheaded Spruce Sawfly

Many spruce trees around Beaumont are not doing well. The majority of the damage you see has been caused by the Yellow-Headed Spruce Sawfly-a small, green caterpillar that emerges in June and feeds on spruce needles until about the end of July each year.

After years of feeding on our trees, some trees have died while other healthy trees are beginning to get infected. This is why we must spray to control this devastating insect.
Yellowheaded Spruce Sawfly LifeCycle

Image Source: Alberta Agriculture and Forestry ; Image Courtesy: A. Bamber, CARA 

  1. What is it?
  2. What's the problem?
  3. What can I do?

The yellowheaded spruce sawfly (Pikonema alaskensis) is native to North America. Mature larvae are about 20 mm (three quarters of an inch) long. They look like hairless green caterpillars with a series of darker stripes running along the body. They have a distinctive dark yellowish head.