Knotweed removal

ruth_wex

Hi all,

I've just noticed Japanese knotweed shooting up in a 2m square patch of the bank at the back of my garden. We haven't had knotweed in the 20 odd years we've lived here so I want to get it out of here ASAP before the stuff takes hold. There's about 10-15 shoots of it ranging 60-150cm in height. It has grown significantly in the past 2 days. I sprayed a good douse of roundup on it this evening but is there anything else I should do in the interim or instead? and should I dig it out once the roundup kills it? The internet has freaked me out with info about spreading it!

Thanks a mil,
Ruth

looksee

Far as I know knotweed is one of the plants you are required to report.

Oldtree

These are interested in reported sightings:
http://invasivespeciesireland.com/background/about/

If you know of any invasive species in a location that does not appear on the distribution maps
http://invasivespeciesireland.com/most-unwanted-species/established/terrestrial/japanese-knotweed

report here:
http://invasivespeciesireland.com/alien-watch/

But knotweed is very common so ......

distribution map in this doc, no legal requirement to report and keep hitting it with glyphosate till is disappears but still monitor the area for a few years after just in case.
http://invasivespeciesireland.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Japanese-knotweed-BPM.pdf

ruth_wex

thanks a mil guys! I've notified invasivespecies and have doused the stuff in roundup, fingers crossed it'll do the job. Will keep an eye and make sure! Thanks again!

magicbastarder

one method i've seen of control (just on telly, mind) is to cut it back to about six inches and pour/inject roundup into the stump.

ruth_wex

Should I burn the removed cuttings then too?

looksee

This is what I was thinking of, and indeed its in the UK http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/wildlife/130079.aspx There is some useful information in that that should answer most of your questions. The main consideration is that new plants can grow from tiny bits of stem and root.

Oldtree

ruth_wex wrote: »

Should I burn the removed cuttings then too?

I would

magicbastarder

you can make them into soup too.

ruth_wex

I had great plans of making knotweed bruschetta but only remembered this after spraying it with roundup! Probably wouldn't be the best idea to eat it now :P! !

Sonnenblumen

Knotweed bruschetta - well if it doesn't kill you, I'm sure you will feel the better for it.;)