King County offers noxious weed workshop to Vashon property owners, June 27

King County's Noxious Weed Program invites Vashon-Maury Island landowners to a free workshop, June 27, where participants can learn how to identify and manage problem weeds that could be invading their fields and farms.

The workshop is set for 7 p.m. at the Vashon Land Trust Building, 10014 SW Bank Rd., and features presentations on pasture weeds and weed management, identification tips with live weed specimens, plus the opportunity for participants to bring unknown weeds and questions to "stump the experts."

"Noxious weeds can cause a number of problems for property owners," said Sasha Shaw, King County's noxious weed program education specialist. "Some are poisonous to humans and livestock, and most grow rapidly and are difficult to control." Weeds can also reduce crop yields, destroy native habitat, clog waterways and diminish land values.

"The hard part is to know where to start and how to tell the weeds apart, and we can teach property owners how to identify the worst invaders and how to prioritize their control," Shaw said.

To sign up or for the workshop, or for more information, contact Shaw at 206-263-6468 or sasha.shaw@kingcounty.gov.

King County 's noxious weed program focuses on education, helps landowners identify noxious weeds and offers technical assistance on the best control options for each site. To find out more about noxious weeds or the noxious weed program, call 206-296-0290; e-mail noxious.weeds@kingcounty.gov; or visit the Web site at dnr.metrokc.gov/weeds.