Weeds seeding before deadline for destruction

The July 1 deadline to destroy noxious weeds may be too late, as many have already gone to seed.

?You have to mow them before they go to seed,? Jefferson County Weed Commissioner Dan Miller said, explaining mowing is the preferred method to abate area weeds.

He said the rainy, hot weather has caused many weeds, including a significant amount of thistle, to seed sooner. Because his office is unable to take action until after July 1, Miller is looking into changing the deadline to make the county policy more effective.

Currently, Jefferson County requires property owners to ?cut, burn or destroy? leafy spurge, perennial peppergrass, sour dock, smooth dock and sheep sorrel by May 20 each year; Canada thistle, Russian knapweed, buckhorn, wild mustard, multiflora rose, teasel and perennial sow thistle by June 1; and field binweed, wild carrots, wild sunflower, cocklebur, bull thistle, musk thistle and waterhemp by July 1.

Miller explained he has to wait until the deadline to respond to complaints by sending a registered letter to the property?s owner, giving them five days to respond. Once that time has passed, the county is able to send someone to mow the weeds and add the cost to the property owner?s taxes.

But Miller hopes landowners will take care of weeds before county action, which can be ?quite costly? for the landowner, becomes necessary.

For the complete article, see the Friday, June 26, 2009, Fairfield Ledger.