Maryland’s Noxious Cecil County For Additional Information Contact: Department of Public Works

Cecil County Department of Public Works Roads Division 758 East Old Philadelphia Road (Route 7) Elkton, MD 21921 Noxious Phone (410) 996-6270 Fax (410) 996-6258 www.ccgov.org

Bull Thistle Maryland Department of Control Protection & Weed Management Section 50 Harry S. Truman Parkway A Guide for County Landowners Annapolis, MD 21401 (410) 841-5871 www.mda.state.md.us Canadian Thistle

Johnsongrass Cecil County Department of Public Works Roads Division 758 East Old Philadelphia Road (Route 7) Elkton, MD 21921 Phone (410) 996-6270 Fax (410) 996-6258 www.ccgov.org

(Version 3/7/13) (Previous versions are obsolete.) Shatter Cane In Cooperation with the Maryland Department of Agriculture What are the rates for the Why are these What does Maryland state County’s regulated? law say regarding control of services? noxious weeds?  Noxious weeds threaten the productive  Landowners using the County’s weed con- land of farmers and can cause unsightly and trol services are billed an hourly rate for  The Agriculture Article of the Anno- unwanted problems in the and gar- labor plus the cost of the used. tated Code of Maryland declares the dens of homeowners. following plants to be noxious weeds in  Hourly rates: What is the County’s weed the State:  Farm Land $55 per hour control program and how can  Thistles belonging to the As- it help?  Non-Farm Land $100 per hour teraceae or Compositae family,  CRP/CREP Sites $125 per hour including Canada, Musk, Nod-  Landowners and managers with the proper ding, Plumeless, and Bull Thistle equipment, licenses, and expertise can eradi-  Aquatic Weeds $150 per hour  Johnsongrass (Sorghum Hale- cate or control noxious weeds on their  $100 per hour pense) or hybrids that contain properties themselves or they can hire prop-  Helper $25 per hour Johnsongrass as a parent; and erly licensed commercial services to do so on their behalf.  Minimum Charge $100  Shatter Cane and Wild Cane (Sorghum Bicolor)  As a service to County residents, the Cecil  Failure to pay for services rendered can re- County Department of Public Works sult in a lien being placed against the prop-  In addition, the Agriculture Article de- (DPW), in cooperation with the Maryland erty by the County Finance Department. clares rosa multiflora, commonly known Department of Agriculture, operates a weed as multiflora rose, to be a public and control program to assist farmers, develop- What are the penalties for common nuisance on land used for agri- ers, right-of-way owners, federal, state, and failing to control noxious cultural production. local agencies and other landowners in con- weeds?  State law requires anyone owning or trolling noxious weeds and certain other managing land within the State of Mary- invasive species such as phragmites.  Landowners or managers who fail to con- land, including public entities, to eradi- trol noxious weeds can be prosecuted by  The County weed control program is man- cate or control the noxious weeds on the State’s Attorney. aged by DPW’s Roads Division and provides that land by using approved practices spot and boom spraying of approved herbi-  The first offense is punishable by a fine not including mowing, cultivating, or treating cides on a fee-for-service basis. to exceed $500 or imprisonment not ex- with an approved . ceeding three months, or both.  The County weed control program is over- seen and rates set by a Weed Control Advi-  Second or subsequent offenses are punish- sory Board appointed by the Cecil County able by a fine not to exceed $1000 or im- Council. prisonment not exceeding one year, or both.