Help with Knotweed please

Hello all, I mentioned in my welcome thread that I am having some major problems with Knotweed, when we first moved in (a month and half ago) the garden was like a jungle with these things, we managed to pull them all out but I understand they can grow back from any tiny bit of root left behind. They seem to grow so fast too and its so annoying! Does anyone have any suggestions on how to fight these?

 

Are you sure its knotweed as I would have thought that it was difficult to pull

knotweed

http://www.environet-uk.co.uk/japanese-knotweed3.php

bindweed

http://www.gardenaction.co.uk/images/weeds/bindweed.jpg

 

Yeah its deffinatly knotweed Its quite easy to pull out

 

If it is knotweed, please read this as you are suppose to dispose of it in a responsible manner.

Hope this Helps!

 

At our local tip/recycling centre, they have dedicated skip for knotweed.

I'm lucky enough to not have it in my garden yet, despite it being in the neighbourhood, but isn't there any way to kind of work round it and get the garden part sorted while it is still present and being treated?

 

There is a version of Roundup that purports to deal with knotweed - available from garden centres

 

Thanks everyone, our bin men won't take knotweed and they dont allow you to take it to take it to the tip, I guess it makes sense though as it grows from anything! It would be everywhere otherwise, we have had to burn it to get rid :(

 

Here's an idea. The more experience folks might tell us if this will work or not.

What about, if having chopped it right down and burned it, you then place a thick polythene sheet over the area. This is a common trick for tackling persistent weeds as they cant get through to the sunlight, so they eventually starve and rot, but it means that you have to leave the sheet there for about a year or more.

But, what if you then put about an inch of sand or grit on top of that sheet, then about 4 inches of compost, and grow shallow rooted annuals in it for a year or two, so you still get some use out of the garden? After a couple of years, dig out the plastic sheet and use your garden as normal.

Would that be a solution?

 

If it was me I would treat it with herbicide until killed - which might take 3 years or so.

Covering it with a root barrier needs the barrier to be intact, and remain so, until the dormancy of the root is passed. That's 20 years at least, and the Environment Agency recommends using a root barrier with a 50 year guarantee :( - which to me spells "expensive" :(

Also, the root barrier would need to be laid in a way that prevents the roots regrowing through any joins in the material, and preventing any burrowing animals chewing through it etc.

Best time to treat with Glyphosate is from now onwards (until early Autumn). respray in a couple of weeks anything that is still alive. Respray anything that reappears after that (but Spring application isn't very effective, so probably worth waiting until end June next year before resuming battle). Don't assume it is dead because there is no regrowth for at least a couple of years :(

 

C,

I think knotweed can get through tarmac and concrete - I assume its like a challenge

 

Kins,

I think you might find these two(updatedto three) sites helpful (but worrying) about controlling knotweed

http://www.chiltern.gov.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php?documentID=621&pageNumber=1

http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/wildlife/31364.aspx


http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=13803

How old is your house?