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Noxious Weed Statute
January 1, 2010 Chemical Prices

Links:
County Weed Directors Association of KS
Kansas.gov

The Noxious Weed Department is a local branch of county government established to enforce the Kansas Noxious Weed Law (KSA 2-1314) within the boundaries of Washington County.  We treat all noxious weeds found on county property and contract with the Kansas Department of Transportation to treat noxious weeds.  We also share the cost of herbicides required by landowners and operators in the county to treat noxious weeds on their property.

Herbicide control products can only be purchased for land in Washington County.  The cost share program is for noxious weeds only.

Applicators License:  An applicators license is needed to apply a restricted use pesticide (RUP).  The only RUP that we sell is Tordon 22K.  You must have a private applicator license to apply Tordon 22K, but you may purchase the product and have a commercial applicator apply it for you if you are not licensed.

Noxious Weeds most likely to be found in Washington County:  Field Bindweed – Musk Thistle – Bull Thistle - Sericea Lespedeza – Johnson Grass – Leafy Spurge.

Field Bindweed

Field Bindweed is a perennial broad leaved plant that spreads over the soil and other structures, and often forms mats.  Leaves alternate along the stem, and are egg to arrow shaped.  Flowers are typically white, but may be light pink.

Bull Thistle is a purple shaving brush shape with long sharp spines.  Leaves are very dark green.  Leaf surfaces are covered with rough, short spines which give it a sandpaper feel.  The leaf tip is pointed with a long, sharp spine on the end.

Bull Thistle

Musk Thistle

Musk Thistle is a round shaped head (powder puff shaped) and up to 3 inches across.  There are sharp spines attached to the leaf like bracs on the back side of the heads.  No spines on stem just below flower until the first leaf.  Leaves are smooth and waxy on top and bottom, green with light color leaf edges.

Sericea Lespedeza is a perennial with erect stems up to 5 feet tall and small hairs laying flat along the ridges on the stem.  The leaves with 3 leaflets, are less than 1 inch to 1 ½ inches long, and ¼ to ½ inch wide with the larger leaflets on the lower portion of the stem.  Leaves are flattened on the outer end.  Flowering occurs from mid or late July to October and may be tinged with purple but always dry to yellow.

Sericea Lespedeza

Johnson Grass

Johnson Grass is an upright perennial grass, reproducing by rhizomes and seeds.  Stems up to 6 to 8 feet high or more from a freely branching fibrous root system.  Leaves alternate, simple, relatively wide and long.  Flowers from May until frost and seeds to frost.

Leafy Spurge plants are bright green, up to 2 feet tall, and form dense colonies from an extensive root system.  The juice is a milky latex and has caused poisoning in some livestock.  The plants bloom in early May to July and again in September depending upon the length of the growing season. True blooming occurs about 10 days after the appearance of the yellow bracts.

Leafy Spurge

Anita R. Childerston, Webmaster 2010

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