One of the most amazing things about working in this region is how many cool local (and national) organizations there are to support healthy green spaces. Knowing where to get started is often half the challenge in tasks like this. The organizations listed below can help no matter where you are in the process of restoring your backyard or local park.
Hotlines
Hotlines are a great resource for those sticky questions you’d rather just talk out, or anything bit more complicated than what will come up quickly on a search engine.
- The Garden Hotline | Pacific Northwest Garden Solutions
- Master Gardeners of King County | King County | Washington State University (wsu.edu)
- Center for Urban Horticulture | University of Washington Botanic Gardens (uw.edu)
DIY
There are so many things you can do yourself – and so many resources to make it easier. From tool libraries to free chip drop to endless educational resources here a few websites to check out as you turn your garden into a thriving green space.
- Plant Sales! Pasture Managment! and Cost Share Programs! Oh My! King Conservation District (kingcd.org)
- Wood chips! For Free! Free Wood Chips from ChipDrop (getchipdrop.com)
- Need a tool? also (mostly) free! Tool libraries – King County, Washington
- Rain Garden subsidies: Northwest natural yard and garden – King County, Washington
- Want to collect your own rainwater? Rainwater catchment information and sources for the Pacific Northwest – King County, Washington
- Want a backyard full of butterflies and birds? Things to Get You Started – Homegrown National Park (wpengine.com) or WNPS Home or Native Plant, Seed and Services Directory | Xerces Society
- Raise awareness in your neighborhood! Wildlife Habitat Yards | Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife
Prevent the Spread!
Seeds can be easily spread by hitching a ride on your clothing, boots, or even your pet’s fur. Remember to brush your boots or wipe down your tools when moving between areas!
- Tips and tips to prevent the spread while adventuring: Take Action – PlayCleanGo
- Help us map weeds! A Community for Naturalists · iNaturalist
Get your hands dirty!
Don’t have a yard and want to apply some of the things you’ve learned? There are many organizations that host volunteer events in the community. Check out a few options below.
- Parks Volunteer Program – King County, Washington
- Volunteer – EarthCorps
- Volunteer – Mid Sound Fisheries Enhancement Group
- Explore Volunteer Opportunities with Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust (mtsgreenway.org)
- Green City Partnerships – Forterra
Talk to us!
The King County Noxious Weed Control Program team is always happy to share factsheets and best management practices and you can peruse our weed pages. We regularly table or give presentations at events around the region and are happy to answer any weedy questions you may have. Whether it’s about noxious weed policy, herbicide permits and practices, or aquatic weeds, to name a few topics; we’re always happy to chat.
- Report a noxious weed – King County, Washington
- Brochures on individual weed species – King County, Washington
Here’s a few tips and tricks when reaching out to us with your questions:
- Photos: Photos are great, especially if you’re reporting a weed or looking for ID help. Close ups are the most useful because they allow us to verify the type of plant much quicker. Include multiple images of leaves, flowers, seeds, stems, roots and any other plant parts to help with the identification.
- Add your location: Provide your address, zip code or city. There many instances where we can be more helpful if we know where you are located and offer specific resources based on your locale.
- Want us to talk at your Garden club or community event? We do free in person and virtual trainings as service to the community. Email us at noxiousweeds@kingcounty.gov to learn more!
What did we miss?
What local organizations do you like? Any we missed? Let us know in the comments below, and #HappyWeeding!
