The original item was published from January 30, 2026 11:10 AM to January 30, 2026 11:15 AM
January 30, 2026
I bumped into a friend at the grocery store recently. When they asked how my work was going, they suggested I might be getting a break from the weeds because of the winter season. The idea was reasonable, and as I began to voice agreement, I u-turned mid-sentence to acknowledge that my back was sore from a busy week of roaming around Lopez frantically removing weeds in all the usual places.
Winter conditions slow plant growth and encourage us to stay indoors, yet it might be the best season to get on top of your noxious weeds for the following reasons:
- It’s easier to discover weeds.
Winter is a great time to survey your neighborhood or favorite places for noxious weeds. Don your coat, grab your phone (with a plant identification app), stuff some gloves in your back pocket, perhaps some binoculars around your neck, and head out the door with a discoverer’s mindset, curiously noticing the details of the landscape. You might be surprised to find a lush tuft of poison hemlock along the fenceline, some wispy green Scot’s broom along your driveway, or the broad rhododendron-like leaves of spurge laurel hunkered beside a dormant thicket of nootka rose.
- It’s easier to remove them.
With the ground softened by rain, pulling weeds out by the root is easier while disturbing less soil that could encourage a flush of seedlings. Spikey bull thistle can be dispatched with a shovel placed at the base of the plant, then slicing the taproot off below the surface (no bending required!). If you have a large patch and are considering using herbicidal tools, a dry winter day can be the ideal time for a targeted treatment, as many native plants nearby are dormant. Often less herbicide will be required for the job because some species are just beginning their growth period. If using herbicide, take care to select an appropriate product and follow the label closely. Contact the Noxious Weed Control Department for more information (360-376-3499, noxiousweeds@sanjuancountywa.gov).
- You likely have more free time in the winter.
Spring gardening is right around the corner. Your cousin, grandma, friend, parents, kids, grandkids, and grandpets are all planning to visit you when the weather gets nicer. Maybe you have your own trips scheduled or that remodeling project. You’re going to be busy! If you’re hiring help to deal with your invasive plants, landscape contractors may have more availability in winter. Plus some winter fresh air and exertion will keep you in shape.
Use this winter to get ahead of your weeds before the growing season hits. Check out the San Juan County noxious weed list and contact us to learn more about the best strategies for dealing with your weeds.
Thanks for pulling together to keep our special islands thriving. See ya out there!