Weeds have storm drains in a chokehold

The unwelcome plants threaten to clog up catch basins, crack asphalt

When weeds are so sturdy and pervasive that they threaten to clog up a catch basin or crack new asphalt, it’s time they got the chop.

It’s past the point when most plant life is still in bloom. Except for a few flowers that come to life in autumn, this is the time of year when the leaves fall and plant life starts to die.

But it’s as if the weeds didn’t get the memo. When most things are receding, weeds stubbornly continue to grow, if not thrive, especially in the pesticide-free environment that is now Ontario.

Our Sept. 17 column about weeds surrounding utility boxes on Brimley Rd. that were so bushy and tall a reader’s two young sons could hide behind them prompted similar com- plaints from other readers.

Gord Burns emailed us a photo of a patch of weeds surrounding a catch basin at the southwest corner Dundas and De Grassi Sts. that he says have reached an impressive height.

“I measured it to be approximately five feet tall, right next to the storm drainage opening,” Burns said.

“Obviously, there is a myriad of problems that can happen as a result of this one situation alone — preventing drainage, blocking of parking, etc. Yet there are thousands of these situations throughout the entire city.

“Sadly, this will cause much greater repair issues down the road, as these weeds will break up the asphalt and sidewalks.”

Further to the damage issue, Wayne Ibsen sent us a note saying weeds are taking their toll on the boulevard on the south side of Kingston Rd., between Eglinton Ave. and Scarborough Golf Club Rd.

“They put in new sidewalks about a year or so ago and put asphalt on the boulevard,” Ibsen said.

“Some of the weeds growing out of the asphalt are three feet tall and are cracking the new asphalt.” STATUS: We’ve asked transportation services if it can arrange to have the weeds cleared away at Dundas and De Grassi, and also on Kingston Rd., before the storm drain is plugged and the cracked asphalt gets worse.

JACK LAKEY Tall bushy weeds have completely surrounded a catch basin at the southwest corner of Dundas and De Grassi Sts., which could prevent water from draining away.