As we roll into August, plenty of noxious weeds across the county are blooming and going to seed, and those of us in the weed world are doing our best to keep up. Here’s what to watch out for this… Read More ›
Tips
Native Plants Saved by Noxious Weed Control
Invasive plants are a menace for a lot of reasons: They can cause serious harm to humans and animals; lower farmers’ crop yields; damage the mountains and lakes we love to visit, cutting back the tourism revenue for surrounding communities;… Read More ›
Keeping the Back Country Weed Free
If you are out riding on the trails this summer, you can help protect our beautiful backcountry from noxious weed invasions by using weed free materials. Noxious weeds negatively impact Washington’s natural areas by out-competing native vegetation, increasing soil erosion,… Read More ›
A Day in the Life of a Weed Specialist: Saving Skykomish from Orange Hawkweed
Have you ever wondered how King County’s noxious weed specialists find and control invasive weeds in King County? Or have you wondered what they do to keep themselves, and all of us, safe while they do their job? If you have—or… Read More ›
Tansy Ragwort – July 2017 Weed of the Month
Cows and horses don’t seek out poisonous plants like tansy ragwort. But it’s hard for them to avoid exposure when the weeds take over their pastures, or line the trails where they are ridden. Although tansy ragwort is bitter and… Read More ›
Who’s Who? Noxious Weeds and their Look-Alikes
Weed Specialist Mary Fee paces through the wetlands at Dumas Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, scanning the cattails around her. Every few dozen feet she stops to inspect a smaller plant growing among them. She’s looking for perennial pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium),… Read More ›
Free Knotweed Control Classes this Summer!
Ever wondered about that giant stand of bamboo-like plants in your backyard, or community garden, or creek edge, that just keeps getting bigger each year? Have you spent months, or years, or even decades struggling to get rid of it?… Read More ›
Weeds to Watch Out For: June 2017
Enjoying the recent spell of sunny weather? You’re not the only one: Across King County, a number of noxious weeds are already bolting, flowering, or going to seed, and our Weed Specialists are working hard to keep them under control…. Read More ›
Biocontrol Agents: Noxious Weed Control’s Unsung Heroes
On a cold and rainy May morning, I walk with Weed Specialist Karen Peterson along the bluffs at the west edge of Seattle’s Discovery Park. As usual, we’re here to control weeds—in this case, a large stand of Scotch broom (Cytisus… Read More ›
Shiny Geranium – April 2017 Weed of the Month
With shiny geranium, appearances are deceiving. Don’t let the plant’s small size or delicate pink flowers fool you. To quote Ed Alverson, a botanist from Oregon who has extensive experience battling shiny geranium, “this is pretty much the most diabolical… Read More ›
