It's a growing problem in Lancaster County, and inspectors say the weeds have created a taller work load.

The Lancaster County Weed Control Authority said the wet weather is partly to blame for the weed problem.

Inspectors are up against this year. The Lancaster Weed Control Authority said it has received about 200 more complaints this year compared to last year. Also up this year the number of cases where they've been forced to send contractors out to cut the weeds down.

Inspectors like Colton May with the Lancaster County Weed Control authority have been keeping busy this year.

"There was a vacant lot there -- it was five feet tall," he said.

On top of that, the superintendent with the weed control said they're being called out to one particular type of problem property.

"We have a continuing increase of foreclosures and unoccupied houses, and these are continuing to become a problem because there is nobody there to take care of things," said Russell Shultz, Weed Control superintendent.

Officials point to one Lincoln home is a typical example of how bad an unoccupied home can get, But for residents like Gerald Lee, who live next door, it's a plain eyesore.

"A property like that can really ruin everything in the neighborhood. Driving, especially right there on the corner, you can see it either way. So it tears down your whole value of your property," said Gerald Lee, resident.

If the property owner doesn't take care of the weeds, officials have to contract the job out as a last resort. They say that's been happening more often this year with one-third of those contracted jobs at unoccupied or foreclosed homes.

"I hope they get this taken care of soon," Lee said.

But for those in the same situation as Gerald Lee and his wife, this last resort is the only way to ensure the problem gets weeded out.

As their name might imply, the Weed Control Authority does not deal with overgrown lawns. They only get involved in cases where weeds have grown more than six inches tall.

Who pays when contractors have to be sent out to take care of those tall weeds? Well, in unoccupied or foreclosed homes, officials say there's a lien placed on the home. So eventually the next homeowner gets the bill.