Noxious weed disposal

You discover that you have noxious weeds. Of course, you want to control them to keep your yard and flower beds looking nice, not to mention to protect your garden. You have an investment of time and treasure in these things that you wish to preserve.

Just a note of caution here. Before you get started you should know what you are dealing with for safe handling and disposal. The sap of some species of noxious weeds are caustic and can cause skin irritation and even blisters. Others are toxic to animals and people. The Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board has an excellent site to help you identify your noxious weeds. For further help you can always contact your local weed board.

You consider your options and have decided that you are going to remove the offending plants by hand. Okay, good plan. What do I do with the weeds I pulled? Just tossing them onto the brush pile is probably not a good idea. That may lead to their spreading. Many plants can grow from roots that appear to be dried and dead and seeds can remain viable for years.

What about composting? Your backyard compost may not get hot enough for long enough to kill seeds and tough roots. If you do not want it to grow in your garden, do not put it in your compost bin.

Well then, how about burning? Ensuring the complete destruction of the roots can be a problem. Many seeds are heat resistant and burning may spread the seeds in the air.

The easy answer: Put them in a garbage bag and put them in the trash.

Any poisonous species, bag and dispose of entirely for safety sake. Also, if the weed species is identified as a “Class A” you need to bag the entire plant from root to seed. For most “Class B” and “Class C” weeds, removal and bagging of the reproductive parts of the plant (i.e. flowers, seed heads) is sufficient for control.

“Out of sight, out of mind” is tempting, but chucking your weeds over the fence is the worst thing you can do. Please be a good neighbor and dispose of your noxious weeds responsibly.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office at (509) 754-2011, Ext. 4710, or visit our website at www.grantcountyweedboard.org.