Spokane aka Weedville

Spokane has been called the Lilac City for many years. However, with the spread of noxious weeds in the Spokane area, we could earn the nickname “Weedville” and not for the other reason.

There are several factors contributing to the problem. The weed control department is currently underfunded and overwhelmed. In the past, weed control was a priority and weeds were dealt with. The weed control department is downsizing even more in the coming year.

A large factor is misidentification, where people think a weed is a flower. Knowledge of weeds is a necessary tool in the battle against noxious weeds.

Another problem is a lack of pride in your home or rental. Many homes sit vacant, loaded down with weeds never seen in the city, until now. Unmown lawns hide weeds until they are established and then can take years to eradicate. Seeds from weeds can lie dormant for years and sneak up when you least expect them.

There are many noxious weeds that plague our region and many of them are hard to deal with. The Spokesman-Review ran a highlight on the skeleton weed, which is a highly invasive plant that take over an area rapidly.

If we as a community and a government do not do our part to control this, the outcome is expensive in many ways: replanting parks, allergens in the air, lowered property values, unsightly communities, etc.

If we do not curb the flow of weeds into our beautiful city, we will lose a battle that can last for years.

Gerald W. Ray

Spokane