King County landowners struggling to fight invasive knotweed on their property know that this tall green menace is not an average garden pest.

Often called false bamboo, knotweed grows rapidly in late spring and is conspicuous along many rivers and roadways, and in backyards and parks throughout the county.

To help landowners combat knotweed on their property, King County’s Noxious Weed Program is offering free workshops on safe and effective control methods that can work for different situations.

The classes are scheduled for:

• June 22, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Cedar Grange, 22531 SE 218th St., Maple Valley

• June 25, 6:30-9 p.m. – this session includes a special Naturescaping workshop by native plant garden expert Greg Rabourn, Green River Community College, Lindbloom Student Center, Glacier Room, 12401 SE 320th St., Auburn

• July 9, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Meadowbrook Farm, 1711 Boalch Ave., North Bend

• July 16, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Kingsgate Library, 12315 NE 143rd St., Kirkland

To sign up for a class or for more information, visit www.kingcounty.gov/weeds or call the noxious weed program at 206-296-0290.

The workshops will teach participants why knotweed is so invasive and hard to control, and will offer practical information on how to effectively get rid of knotweed. Class participants are eligible to borrow the County’s knotweed stem-injectors for use on their own land.