Local gardeners are being asked to do the right thing when putting their plants to bed this winter.
Officials with Renfrew County Forest are reminding people with garden or yard waste to keep it out of the 6,500 hectares of forested area within county boundaries they care for, as some common garden species are invasive and have the potential to outcompete native plants for resources.
They add that invasive species finding their way into the local ecosystem has become a growing issue that comes at the expense of the Renfrew County Forest, and most of the recorded occurrences can be directly linked to the dumping of waste.
Problem areas are under surveillance, and fines will be issued.
(written by Kasey Egan)