2026 Montana Noxious Weed Awareness Week
June 7–13
Join us in celebrating Montana’s Noxious
Weed Awareness Week (MNWAW) A statewide event held annually during the first full week of June. Together, we can raise awareness, encourage stewardship, and inspire Montanans to take action against noxious weeds.to see you there.
Sunday, June 7 — kNOweeds | Weed of the Day: Oxeye Daisy
Montana defines noxious weeds as invasive, non-native plants that harm ecosystems, agriculture, or beneficial land uses.
Montana lists 36 statewide noxious weeds, with counties able to list additional species.
Oxeye daisy spreads aggressively and outcompetes native plants. Encourage the use of native or non-invasive alternatives (such as Shasta daisy) to reduce spread.
Monday, June 8 — Prevention | Weed of the Day: Rush Skeletonweed
Prevention is the most cost-effective weed management tool. Promote PlayCleanGo, Clean. Drain. Dry., and similar programs that reduce the accidental movement of seeds.
Rush skeletonweed spreads rapidly through windblown seeds and deep roots—cleaning equipment and avoiding contaminated materials helps stop its spread before it becomes unmanageable.
Tuesday, June 9 — Cultural Control | Weed of the Day: Common Buckthorn
Healthy, competitive vegetation reduces weed establishment. Practices include proper grazing, reseeding disturbed areas, mulching, and using native species.
Common buckthorn forms dense thickets and thrives in disturbed soil. “Cover it up” by reseeding or mulching immediately after soil disturbance.
Wednesday, June 10 — Mechanical Control | Weed of the Day: Spotted Knapweed
Mechanical control includes pulling, digging, or mowing weeds before they flower. Bag flowering plants to prevent seed spread and clean tools between sites.
Spotted knapweed produces thousands of seeds per plant. Removing it before flowering protects rangelands and supports efforts like Pull Your Share.
Thursday, June 11 — Biological Control | Weed of the Day: Whitetop
Biological control introduces natural enemies that target specific invasive weeds. Montana supports biocontrol distribution, education, and monitoring through the Montana Biological Weed Control Coordination Project.
Whitetop biocontrol releases help build populations of the newly approved agent and support integrated management strategies.
Friday, June 12 — Chemical Control | Weed of the Day: Leafy Spurge
Herbicides help manage deep-rooted weeds when used according to label directions. Treat during active growth and avoid spreading seeds during application.
Leafy spurge’s extensive root system makes chemical control an important part of long-term management, often combined with biocontrol and grazing.
Saturday, June 13 — Reporting Weeds | Weed of the Day: Blueweed
Reporting is one of the simplest ways to help protect Montana. Early detection reduces costs and prevents spread. Reports can be made to county weed districts, MSU Extension, or via tools like iNaturalist and EDDMapS.
Blueweed spreads rapidly and hitchhikes easily on boots, tires, pets, and equipment. Early reporting helps stop new invasions.
