[AdsaM]

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

[Ice]

Look on the Environment Agency website for the best advice on this monster.

[naturesparadise]

this may help
http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/organicweeds/weed_information/weed.php?id=11

[FCG]

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.

[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!!!!

[peapod]

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

[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!!!!

[peapod]

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

[DD.]

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/

[garddwr]

Remember not to put it in your compost bin or council green waste bin as you can get terrible fines.

[DD.]

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?

[DD.]

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

[poultrygeist]

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

[noshed]

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.

[wombling2006]

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
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