English holly’s red berries and beautiful, glossy green leaves evoke warm, holiday cheer for many. Unfortunately, we are also becoming all too familiar with seeing this plant along hiking trails and in out-of-the-way forests. Sadly, English holly is beginning to… Read More ›
An invasive insect harming grape vines and other crops in the northeastern United States might show up in Washington soon and scientists are using another invasive species to help them detect it early. Tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima), an invasive tree species… Read More ›
In the cool, autumn months after the rains start up again, there is a window of opportunity for controlling many weeds. Digging and even hand-pulling is very effective in the fall when the soil loosens up with the rain and… Read More ›
Sure there might be a little rain, but you will warm up quickly working alongside your neighbors planting trees or yanking out invasive weeds. With the cooler temperatures and the return of the rain, the conditions are ideal for planting… Read More ›
Weeds are, unfortunately, a common sight, but it takes a special kind of weed to make the “World’s Top 10 Worst Weeds List.” Field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis), a non-regulated Class C noxious weed, is one of them. If you’ve ever… Read More ›
Have you visited a lake or river to swim on one of these hot summer days, only to find the water thick with submerged plants? Some of those aquatic plants are natives, but others are nasty invasive species that can… Read More ›
It’s the first week of August, the days are hot, and there’s one plant on every Noxious Weed Specialist’s mind: tansy ragwort (Senecio jacobaea). This biennial, regulated Class B noxious weed grows throughout King County, especially on open, sunny sites… Read More ›
Noxious weeds are sneaky. Each one has its trick for taking over: many spread by seed, while others use stem and root fragments, underground rhizomes, or aboveground runners. Anytime you’re out around a noxious weed, make sure you know how… Read More ›
Although it is perhaps one of the prettiest noxious weeds, purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), is widely recognized throughout North America as a highly invasive and damaging weed in wetlands and along shorelines. Vigorous perennial roots and rhizomes combined with incredibly… Read More ›
With the Vashon Strawberry Festival coming up and the Unofficial Mayor Contest in full swing, Vashon Island might seem like an idyllic world of its own, separated from the rest of King County. In some ways, it is; but when… Read More ›
