Washington County
Weed Control

The Washington County Weed Control Program is charged with assisting private and public landowners of Washington County in the management of noxious weeds to comply with Maryland Department of Agriculture in enforcing the Maryland Noxious Weed Law (title 9, Subtitle 4).  The first Nuisance Weed Law was legislated in 1969 to protect private and public lands against the spread of Johnsongrass.  Currently, Johnsongrass, Shattercane, and four species of thistle have been designated by the law as “noxious” because of their invasiveness, difficulty to control, and economic and aesthetic impact on all Maryland property.

The community benefits through increased productivity of agricultural lands and improved aesthetics of the land, which subsequently increases profitability and land values while decreasing herbicide usage.

Our Objectives and Goals are to:

• To minimize the impact of noxious weeds in the county.
• To provide technical assistance and information to county landowners and land managers so they can effectively and efficiently control noxious weeds.
• To contact land owners and managers to develop a plan of control for lands infested with noxious weeds.
• To conduct weed monitoring, weed inspections and landowner contacts for noxious weed infestations.
• To continue progress made over the years in reducing distribution and spread of noxious weeds in the county.
• To educate the general public through contacts, literature, displays, and public meeting.
• To provide weed control services, for a fee, to assist with the control when requested.