The Town of High River provides a memorial tree and bench program, allowing individuals to commemorate a significant milestone or special moment, establishing a lasting legacy. Honour a loved one or celebrate graduations, anniversaries, births or significant moments in your personal or professional life that can be part of the community for generations. Choose a location where your memorial bench can be enjoyed by the community along the Town’s Happy Trails or in one of the various parks and greenspaces.

• Memorial Tree Application Form
• Memorial Bench Application Form

Need access to one of the Town’s greenspaces? Please get a Parks and Green Spaces Access Permit if you need a vehicle or other access to parks, boulevards and green spaces for moving, construction, parking or other activities.

Unauthorized access includes driving, parking or encroaching on rights of way, boulevards, parks and green spaces to move, construction, parking, or any other activity using a vehicle or equipment. If damage occurs, the damaged area must be returned to pre-existing conditions and the satisfaction of the Town of High River. Contact the Parks & Recreation department for more information.

Naturalization is simply an alternative to high-maintenance landscapes. It allows native plants into areas that are not mowed and can evolve naturally or be planted. The idea is becoming more popular worldwide due to economic restraints and a desire to do what is right for the environment.

What are the advantages?

• Economics: Less turf maintenance and reduced mowing costs
• Environmental benefits: Reintroduction of native plants helps re-establish wildlife populations, increases natural growth, and improves overall air quality
• Aesthetics: Creates attractive, natural areas within an urban zone.
• Slope stabilization and filtering runoff

Not all sites are suited for naturalization. Areas where sports are played or playgrounds are located are not acceptable, but the fringe areas beside these sites may work.

Roadways are an excellent example of manicured areas where naturalization could be applied to reduce mowing and maintenance.

Weeds can initially be an issue when you passively allow these areas to become naturalized, but they typically only have to be eradicated for the first two years. Once the native material is established, this is no longer an issue.

Naturalization can significantly reduce community maintenance costs while offering a beautiful, responsible alternative to manicured areas.

Natural areas in High River can be found along Coal Trail in the northwest, the edges of George Lane Park, and along the river pathways. They can also be found in Stang Park, around Sunshine Lake, Vista Mirage and Highwood Lake.

The Town of High River uses an Integrated Pest Management system to control weeds and pests throughout the community. This is a decision-making model used to prevent and manage pest problems using a variety of methods.

Cosmetic Weeds (Dandelions)

Dandelions are considered a cosmetic weed. Typically, the Town controls dandelions in the cemetery, sports fields and high-profile parks and greenspaces. Thresholds of dandelions are monitored in all parks and greenspaces and controlled accordingly. Many municipalities are eliminating or reducing the spraying of cosmetic weeds. Tree's Canada has issued a statement asking residents not to spray dandelions to help increase bee populations. The Town of High River uses best management practices when determining areas of control.

Noxious Weeds

Noxious weeds must be controlled and Prohibited. Noxious weeds must be destroyed under the Alberta Weed Control Act. The Agricultural Pests Act and Regulations empower municipalities to appoint inspectors to carry out the requirements of the Act and regulations. The Town of High River has a Municipal weed Inspector as appointed by Council, and enforcement is carried out through the Towns’ municipal bylaw services.

For common pests, please visit the Alberta Invasive Species Council website for fact sheets and other resources. If you suspect an infestation, please contact the Town of High River.

For information on Dutch Elm Disease, see the urban forest tab and visit: www.stopded.org

What is it?

It is a soft-scale insect which feeds on Elm species. Feeding damage from this insect includes stunted growth, chlorotic foliage, premature leaf drop and branch dieback. Black sooty mould growth on the tops of branches gives trees an overall black appearance.

Signs and symptoms

Often first noticed on urban Elms when honeydew produced by feeding scales becomes a nuisance on parked cars or outdoor furniture. Branches on infested trees are typically blackened by sooty mould growing on the honeydew. Closer examination reveals female scales, which appear as grey or reddish-brown discs surrounded by a white waxy fringe.

What to do

• Keep your Elms healthy:
• Water regularly, especially during drought times(includes mature trees)
• Protect roots from damage (i.e. compaction)
• Mulch area around the tree
• *If your tree is showing signs from the European Elm scale, contact an ISA Certified Arborist. Severe infestations may require a chemical application.

What is it?

Black knot is caused by the fungus Apiosporina Morbosa and is a very common disease in various species of Prunus. This includes ornamental and fruit-bearing species such as the Mayday tree, Amur Cherry, Schubert Choke-cherry etc.

Signs and symptoms

• Early stages are a small olive-green gall or swelling on the new growth of a tree.
• Swelling will grow until mature after 2-3 years and will result in black, tar-like swellings (galls).
• Mature galls produce and release a vast amount of spores during the bloom period, resulting in a rapid increase in infections. These spores are spread by wind and rain.
• If the knot circles the entire circumference of the branch, the branch will die. In addition, if a tree is severely infected, the disease can eventually kill the tree.
• One diseased tree can contaminate an entire neighbourhood

What to do

• Prune any infected branches during winter or early spring when plants are dormant, and the disease is easy to see.
• Prune the branch 15-20 cm below any visible swelling.
• As a precaution, ensure pruning tools are disinfected between cuts.
• Diseased wood must be destroyed immediately (burned, buried or removed from the site)
• Diseased knots can produce and release spores for up to 4 months after removal.
• Ensure plants are healthy and free from stress (not a guarantee from disease)
• If caught early enough, Black Knot can be controlled by regular monitoring, pruning and destroying the affected branches.

What is it?

DED is caused by a fungus that blocks the water-conducting vessels of an Elm. The fungus is spread by an Elm Bark beetle which comes in contact with infected wood and then feeds and overwinters on a healthy elm. Alberta is currently free of Dutch Elm Disease. No cases have been found in our Province.

Signs and symptoms

The leaves of an infected Elm will wilt, turn yellow, then curl and turn brown. Brown leaves will remain on the tree throughout winter. Infection later in the summer can cause leaves to turn yellow and fall prematurely.

What to do

• Keep your Elms healthy:
• Water regularly, especially during drought times(includes mature trees)
• To help keep Alberta free of the disease, Elm pruning is not permitted from April 1 to September 30. Elm bark beetles (EBB), the vectors of DED, are active between these dates and can be attracted to the scent of fresh cuts, possibly infecting a healthy tree. Once an elm is infected with DED, it will die within a year.
• Keep your Elms free of deadwood and broken branches.
• Proper pruning techniques performed by qualified personnel are essential in maintaining a healthy Elm population. Topping or removing an excessive amount of live wood is not recommended on any variety of trees and will weaken a tree’s structure. Disinfecting tools and properly disposing of Elmwood either by chipping or landfill is an important practice that will also aid in preventing this disease.
• Check dates when Elms can be pruned - fall to spring only! Check www.stopded.org
• Do not transport, use or store Elm firewood.