Help with Japanese Knotweed

[Anonymous]

Has anyone paid for services to remove japanese knotweed? or good tips on how to battle it?

[Anonymous]

It's a losing battle. Worst plant in existence.

[Anonymous]

Well, if there's nothing of importance for where it is growing, perhaps you can hire someone's goats to clear it out. I'm entirely serious.

[Anonymous]

I just keep cutting it off as it comes up.

[Anonymous]

You have to dig up all the roots or it will just keep regrowing. I had luck when I pulled up everything, dug up as much of the roots as I could and then laid heavy black plastic down. Then I had to pull out any small things that sprouted here and there, but it was controlled.

Unfortunately, my neighbors have it in their yard and don't do anything about it, so it keeps coming back.

[Anonymous]

Depends on the size of your patch. I only had a little in my yard so I've been able to stay on top of it just by hand-pulling/digging (but I check religiously). For larger stands, you will need to use herbicides and you will need to do it right -- there are particular times of year and methods for using it effectively. If you really want it gone, hire a professional who knows what they're doing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You have to dig up all the roots or it will just keep regrowing. I had luck when I pulled up everything, dug up as much of the roots as I could and then laid heavy black plastic down. Then I had to pull out any small things that sprouted here and there, but it was controlled.

Unfortunately, my neighbors have it in their yard and don't do anything about it, so it keeps coming back.

Don’t dig it up! Any broken piece of root will resprout. Getting rid of it is a multi year process and there are a number of internet resources about how. The bottom line is that you want to cut it to the ground in mid to late June, so the plant roots direct all energy toward regrowing, and then spray with herbicide in September when the regrown plant is sending energy to the root for winter. You can also do a second cut and daub herbicide on the stumps in September if you don’t want to spray, but that’s a bit less effective.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You have to dig up all the roots or it will just keep regrowing. I had luck when I pulled up everything, dug up as much of the roots as I could and then laid heavy black plastic down. Then I had to pull out any small things that sprouted here and there, but it was controlled.

Unfortunately, my neighbors have it in their yard and don't do anything about it, so it keeps coming back.

Don’t dig it up! Any broken piece of root will resprout. Getting rid of it is a multi year process and there are a number of internet resources about how. The bottom line is that you want to cut it to the ground in mid to late June, so the plant roots direct all energy toward regrowing, and then spray with herbicide in September when the regrown plant is sending energy to the root for winter. You can also do a second cut and daub herbicide on the stumps in September if you don’t want to spray, but that’s a bit less effective.

I've been putting herbicide on the leaves, and down into the stems but haven't seen any noticeable effects. Is it working??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's a losing battle. Worst plant in existence.

And worst plant is Tree of Heaven.

[Anonymous]

https://www.newsweek.com/japanese-knotweed-driving-men-murder-257257

[Anonymous]

[Anonymous]

I see that a few states are studying an insect that will feed on knotweed (and only knotweed) and kill it that way. I hope that works out! I’m pretty hippy dippy when it comes to lawn care (weeds? Who cares, there’s more to life than a golf course lawn) but I’d go Roundup ham on this plant.