2024 Invasive Forest Weed Control Field Practicum

Field-based, hands-on weed control training

Is ivy pulling down your trees? Are blackberries taking over your newly planted trees? Do you have stubborn holly in your understory? Are dreaded species like knotweed, yellow archangel, spurge laurel, and Scotch broom popping up on your property? Invasive weeds inhibit the growth of, and may even kill your trees. They cause significant ecological harm by taking over ecosystems, crowding out native species, degrading wildlife habitat, and increasing erosion. Some are dangerously toxic and can cause serious injury, illness, or death. Controlling these noxious invaders is a challenging but essential task for landowners.

But how do you go about tackling these projects? Should you mow, dig, inject, spray, mulch, or send in the goats? At this field practicum, you will see a variety of both chemical and non-chemical control methods demonstrated step by step, followed by hands-on practice to learn to identify and control some of the most common invasive weeds that cause economic and environmental damage in forests.

When and Where

Date and Time

This workshop will be Friday, August 23, 2024 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Location

This in-person field workshop will be held at a property near Auburn. Exact location info, including directions, will be provided upon registration.

What to Expect

Format

This practicum is completely field-based and centered on hands-on learning. After safety briefings, you will don protective gear (provided) to watch demonstrations and then do hands-on practicing of multiple control techniques. Workshop sessions are offered throughout the day covering different weed control strategies at different stations around the site. Participants choose which workshop they want to go to for each of the session period.

Workshop session topics include hand-pulling, root digging, using a weed wrench, foliar herbicides (water with dye will be used in place of actual herbicides), cut stump treatments, stem injection, and more. You will learn about safe use of herbicides, including what products to use for specific weeds, where to get those products, how to read a label, proper safety equipment, avoiding environmental damage, pesticide laws, tank mixing, calibrating a sprayer for the proper application rate, clean-up, and storage.

Logistics

A restroom will be available at the field practicum
Please bring your own sack lunch, snacks, and plenty of water.
This is an outdoor event. Please come ready for the elements. IMPORTANT: due to the nature of the activities, participants MUST wear long pants and sturdy close-toed shoes or boots. Long sleeves are also recommended. Those not properly dressed will not be permitted to participate in some of the activities for safety reasons.

Cost and Registration

Pre-registration is required. Registration will NOT be available on site. Space is limited and is first come, first served. The registration deadline is 5:00 p.m. Monday, August 19, 2024. Cancellation requests must be received by 5:00 p.m. Monday, August 19, 2024 to be eligible for a refund. Eventbrite processing fees are non-refundable.

Registration fees

Individual registration: $20
Household registration (2-4 adults): $30

Registration is open

Register online

Register online via Eventbrite. Online registrations are subject to a non-refundable credit card processing fee. Online registration will be open until 5:00 p.m. August 19, 2024 or until the event sells out.

Register by mail

Mail-in registrations must be received by 5:00 p.m. July 25, 2024. Download the mail-in registration form (PDF). To fill out the mail-in registration form, we recommend that you right-click the download link and select “Save link as” to save the PDF file, and then open it in Adobe Acrobat or the free Adobe Reader rather than viewing it within your web browser. The form functions do not work when viewed in a browser window. Fill it out on your computer and then print it out and mail it in with a check made out to “Washington State University Extension” to:

WSU Extension Forestry
Attn: 2024 Invasive Weed Practicum Registration
6705 Puget Park Dr
Snohomish, WA 98296

Acknowledgements and Accommodations

Funding support for this program is provided by the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks and the Washington State Department of Natural Resources.

Extension programs and employment are available to all without discrimination. Evidence of noncompliance may be reported through your local Extension office. Reasonable accommodations will be made for persons with disabilities and special needs who contact Sarah Stewart at sarah.stewart1@wsu.edu or 425-738-0103 at least three weeks prior to the event.