Japanese Knotweed

[Gary Prentice]

Its VERY hard to get rid of, and very expensive to have it done by a large company. I wouldn't be happy with it being within 100 metres of my property, spreads like wildfire especially if people just cut it down.

 

The large companies like everyone to think its the plant from hell to correspond with their fees. We've successfully controlled it with roundup stem injections over a few years, with no new regrowth four or five years later.

 

It only gets difficult when a 25yr guarantee is required. Can you guarantee that you won't get a self seeded sycamore, ash or even buddleia plant on a site in the next 25 years.

 

Assuming that this species works like other vegetation, ie it produces energy by photosynthesis does it have any other survival strategy? Repeated cutting and prevention of leaf production must surely kill it off in the end. The carbohydrates stored in the roots must finally be used up if not replenished.

 

Just hypothesizing, before anyone else jumps down my throat.

[hedgesparrow]

with digging it up do you know you have got it all just one small piece can regrow. for £90 for stem injector with chemical just inject the crown 99% sucsess rate in first year may need a second dose but digging it if it spreads 7mtrs are you going to dig 7 mtrs around to try and get every bit, what a job and expence. as for 25year garentee how can you give that. all you can do is say will inject it and should be dead in a few weeks but no garentee