Tollgate implements a weed abatement program every year. Those pretty purple-flowering Knapweed and yellow-flowering Dalmation Toadflax are very aggressive NOXIOUS weeds. Click here to see a map of Tollgate that shows areas where Knapweed and Dalmatian Toadflax have been found in prior years. Due to the fact that the seeds can stay dormant for up to 10 years, these areas will remain on the map and will be checked yearly. Given the history of these weeds, we are certain they will again be abundant in these areas and will continue to spread if left unchecked. If your lot is adjacent to a common area indicated on the map, please check and remove these noxious weeds.
Yearly spraying for Knapweed and Dalmatian Toadflax is scheduled for mid-May to early June. Spraying days will be posted at the postal box area. We use Specialty Spray at 541-389-2919. Hopefully, we will be able to rid our community of these noxious weeds if we follow our proactive weed abatement policy.
The time to abate these weeds is prior to blooming – late April to early May. They need to be removed early, to prohibit them from producing thousands of seeds. The most effective abatement methods include:
- Wear a long sleeve shirt and gloves.
- Hand pull the weeds by early May, prior to weeds blooming.
- Place the weeds in a plastic bag and dispose of them in your garbage container.
- DO NOT burn the weeds.
- Spraying weeds can be effective if done prior to the weed flowering – late April to early may for Knapweed and late fall for Toadflax.
How to identify our unwelcome visitors:
Knapweed: Flowers are purple, pink for spotted knapweed and white for diffuse knapweed. They have dark spots visible on the flower buds and heads. Leaves are short, narrow and covered with fine hair, small and divided at the base of the plant. They grow close to the ground the first year and can grow to 3 feet in height the second year.
Dalmatian Toadflax: Flowers are yellowish with an orange throat, may look like a wild snapdragon. Stems are smooth and gray-green in color. The leaves are dense, alternate and clasp stem, heart-shaped, green and waxy and the upper leaves are conspicuously broad-based.
For more information and colored brochures please contact the Tollgate office.
Our local experts are :
Maret Pajutee – Sisters Ranger District Ecologist:: 541-549-2111
Dave Langland – Oregon Department of Agriculture:: 541-548-2241
Dan Sherwin – Deschutes County Weed/Vegetation Manager:: 541-322-7135