Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => General Gardening => Topic started by: AdsaM on October 14, 2008, 19:21

Title: Japanese Knotweed :(
Post by: AdsaM on October 14, 2008, 19:21
Urgh found two nice big clumps of the stuff at the top of my garden. :(

Got my work cut out with these two nasties i think.

Anyone got any ideas as to how i start to clear them?

Thanks.

Steve
Title: Japanese Knotweed :(
Post by: Ice on October 14, 2008, 19:30
Look on the Environment Agency website for the best advice on this monster.
Title: Japanese Knotweed :(
Post by: naturesparadise on October 14, 2008, 20:00
this may help
http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/organicweeds/weed_information/weed.php?id=11
Title: Japanese Knotweed :(
Post by: FCG on October 14, 2008, 20:08
Do as the Americans do, go nuclear.

Local allotments had an infestation and from what i can gleam from someone i talked to on their he nuked it with diluted sodium choloride.
Title: Japanese Knotweed :(
Post by: GrannieAnnie on October 14, 2008, 22:47
I give mine a good dose of Clinic Ace everytime it rears its ugly little head.  Its not cheap, and not always easy to get and its lethal, so be careful.

The chap oon the TV the other night was saying they cut it to about 1 foot off the ground and inject the weed killer inside the hollow stems.  But mine don't get that high before I start!!!!
Title: Japanese Knotweed :(
Post by: peapod on October 14, 2008, 22:54
Quote from: "GrannieAnnie"
I give mine a good dose of Clinic Ace everytime it rears its ugly little head.  Its not cheap, and not always easy to get and its lethal, so be careful.

The chap oon the TV the other night was saying they cut it to about 1 foot off the ground and inject the weed killer inside the hollow stems.  But mine don't get that high before I start!!!!


Horrible stuff
Im just about to do a woodland management project for college and the wood we are assessing has just started to get ONE patch of this evil weed.
Everyone else was advising in their plan to 'stop the campfires, increase biodiversity by this and that' etc etc

I said 'get that stuff OUT before it takes serious hold and eats budget money for years to come'
One student said..its good for bees though! ARGHHHHH!

Paula
Title: Japanese Knotweed :(
Post by: GrannieAnnie on October 14, 2008, 23:09
Good for bees?????  Did you see the bit on TV about it?  Seems to be taking over part of the West Country, around Launceston I think they said, all up the river!!

That's something the Victorians did for us that wasn't very good!!!!
Title: Japanese Knotweed :(
Post by: peapod on October 14, 2008, 23:23
Quote from: "GrannieAnnie"
Good for bees?????  Did you see the bit on TV about it?  Seems to be taking over part of the West Country, around Launceston I think they said, all up the river!!

That's something the Victorians did for us that wasn't very good!!!!


This has been introduced via the river too.  I said" Good for bees?????"myself?! "Can you think of anything and I mean anything else that may be just as good?!!"

We also have a gorgeous Hall (Towneley) and grounds near us too, where knotweed is taking a slow hold due to funding restrictions.  One of the other students is doing a full investigative project on it, (to be submitted to various external checks that may be taken seriously hopefully) just to reinforce the need to get rid of this stuff.

Paula
Title: Japanese Knotweed :(
Post by: DD. on October 15, 2008, 05:46
Interesting article in yesterday's Daily Mirror, (I don't buy it - saw it at Mother's).

Not sure how long this link will remain...

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2008/10/14/the-tiny-insect-that-could-save-britain-from-eco-crisis-115875-20801814/
Title: Japanese Knotweed :(
Post by: garddwr on October 15, 2008, 07:21
Remember not to put it in your compost bin or council green waste bin as you can get terrible fines.
Title: Japanese Knotweed :(
Post by: DD. on October 15, 2008, 07:25
Quote from: "garddwr"
Remember not to put it in your compost bin or council green waste bin as you can get terrible fines.


Is there such a thing as a good fine? :lol:
Title: Japanese Knotweed :(
Post by: DD. on October 15, 2008, 07:33
Just diverting slightly, in Jersey they have problems with an invasive mesembryanthemum, locally known now as the 'Jersey Fig'.

Imported from South Africa during the Victorian era, the residents soon found that they took over their gardens, so they did no more than dig them up & throw them down the cliffs.

You can guess what happened.

Another "What the Victorians did for us"!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/jersey/content/articles/2008/06/05/springwatch_2008_feature.shtml
Title: Japanese Knotweed :(
Post by: poultrygeist on October 15, 2008, 16:43
BBC are doing a general run on all teh foreign invaders. From plants to spiders to aquatic species...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7573320.stm

We have, like a lot of people, buddleia, cherry laurel and a rhododendron in a large tub. The laurels are the biggest pain next to the elders. Doesn't need to be alien to be invasive and annoying. :)

Rob 8)
Title: Japanese Knotweed :(
Post by: noshed on October 22, 2008, 16:52
I seem to be able to keep it at bay by spraying it weekly with glyphosate mixed at double strength. It's probably still underground but I didn't see any leaves this summer.
Title: Japanese Knotweed :(
Post by: wombling2006 on October 24, 2008, 17:05
I have loads of it...but nothing compared to what it used to be like...Ive tried everything...nothing works effectively..best Ive found and safest is removing it myself by digging/pulling and the goat really loves it as well ...which helps...lol :lol:
even the chickens will have a go at the leaves of the new shoots sometimes....it runs away with growth during the summer months....

I missed the spot on breakfast bbc about a week or so about it....I thought it mentioned someone finding a way to finally get rid of it....?

trudi
Title: Japanese Knotweed
Post by: humbug on November 17, 2008, 13:44
Hi,

I work with Japanese Knotweed all the time.  The best approach is to cut the stems back late summer when in full growth and pour stong systemic weedkiller down into the hollow stems.  You cant get the stuff that the contractors use without a licence but I'll see whether i can get some recommendations.  This is considered more effective than spraying.

It wont kill for a couple of years but should keep it in check a little.  Given that it is dying back at this time of year you should cut back canes to about a foot above ground level - possily give it a little more.  These can be burnt as it is only the lower part of the stem that is viable and can be spread. This keeps it tidy and stops the stems from breaking or being blown around in winter.

Hope this helps - on a good note there is site on the internet that give you some recipes for the young shoots.  Apple and Knotweed pie has always looked interesting!
Title: Japanese Knotweed :(
Post by: Yorkie on November 17, 2008, 17:45
Our local contractor injected the glyphosate into the stems, killed them that year and can't see any regrowth (yet).

But, as humbug says, that's industrial strength not amateur strength stuff.