Gardener Toolkit
Whether you’re planting your first garden or refreshing your backyard beds, every gardening choice can make a difference. This page brings together trusted resources to help you grow native plants, spot invasive threats, and make eco-friendly decisions at garden centres. Dig in to learn how you can support local biodiversity, one plant at a time.
Table of Contents
Technical Bulletins
*Please note: the Invasive Plant Technical Bulletin Series is currently undergoing some updates and will be reposted when the process has been completed.
Garlic Mustard
Common Buckthorn
Japanese Knotweed
Dog-strangling Vine
Best Management Practices
Garlic Mustard
Goutweed
Giant Hogweed
Manitoba Maple
Multiflora Rose
Norway Maple
Winged Euonymous (Burning Bush)
Articles
Learn how to create a biodiversity garden using native plants to support local ecosystems and keep invasive species out.
Jumping Worms in the Garden? What you can do to help!
Jumping worms are damaging soil health in gardens—here’s how to spot them and reduce their spread.
5 Ways Gardeners Can Help Reduce the Spread of Invasive Species – Invasive Species Centre
Simple gardening tips—like cleaning tools and choosing native plants—can go a long way in stopping the spread of invasive species.
Pick non-invasive plants in garden stores
Not all pretty plants are garden-friendly—learn how to shop smart and avoid invasive species at garden centres.
Quick Reference Guide
Invasive Terrestrial Plants
Grow Me Instead Guides
Southern Ontario Grow Me Instead
Northern Ontario Grow Me Instead
FRENCH Grow Me Instead
External Resources
Native Plant Database
Not sure which native plants are best suited for your site? The North American Plant Society (NANPS) offers a helpful search tool to discover species natives to your area. It’s an easy way to ensure your planting choices support your site condition, support local biodiversity and thrive in your garden space.
Where to Buy Native Plants
Looking to source native plants for your garden? Click on the maps below – created by In the Zone (a partnership between WWF- Canada and Carolinian Canada) and Network of Nature- to find nurseries, garden centres, and growers across Ontario that are selling native plants. It’s a great starting tool for finding local options that support biodiversity and pollinators in your region.
How to dispose of garden waste?
Proper disposal of invasive plants is essential to prevent them from spreading. Never discard garden waste in nearby natural areas. Avoid composting invasive plant material and seeds as they can sometimes survive this process. If you have a seed packet with invasive species that you’re looking to dispose, put the seeds and packaging in a sealed plastic bag, then put this inside a second sealed bag, and place them in your regular garbage that goes to a landfill.
For invasive plant materials, dispose in construction grade plastic garbage bags, set out on a hard surface for one to two weeks in the sun and place in household waste. Refer to regional or provincial management guidelines for more specific information on disposal.
