KENT, Wash. – Is ivy pulling down your trees? Are dreaded species like knotweed, Scotch broom and Himalayan blackberry popping up on your property?
Invasive weeds not only halt growth or even kill your trees, they cause significant ecological harm and erosion, crowding out native species and degrading wildlife habitat. Controlling these noxious invaders is a challenging but essential task for forest landowners.
Washington State University Extension Forestry experts will teach landowners to identify and control problem plants like knotweed, reed canary grass, butterfly bush, and more, at an Invasive Forest Weed Control Field Practicum, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, June 2, in Kent.
The workshop is completely field-based. Following demonstrations, participants will practice hand-pulling, root digging, stem injection and other techniques. Participants also will learn how to use herbicides safely and effectively, including what products to use, how to read a label, avoiding environmental damage, pesticide laws. Participants can earn six pesticide licenser recertification credits for taking part.
The event is $25 per person, $35 for couples ($15/$25 before May 19), and will be held at 29224 Thomas Road S.E., in Kent. Doors open at 8 a.m.
Pre-registration is required. To register online, visit Brown Paper Tickets.
To learn more, visit the WSU forestry website.
Contact:
Kelsey Ketcheson, Forestry Program Coordinator, 206-263-1128, kelsey.ketcheson@wsu.edu, http://forestry.wsu.edu.
