How to Get Rid Of Japanese Knotweed

Learning how to get rid of Japanese Knotweed off your property is not impossible if sufficient effort is put into place. Homeowners have been able to dispose of this highly invasive weed through the use of elementary methods that have proved to work.

To get rid of Japanese permanently from your property, here are strategies that you should use to get you going.

Cut and dispel

Cutting as a method to get rid of Japanese knotweed has been hailed as an effective method directed towards the eradication of this weed, especially where the plants are overgrown.

However, for cutting to work perfectly, it must be done using very sharp objects that can cut the canes of the weed as close to the ground as possible.

While cutting one must be very careful to ensure that the fragments of the branches or rhizomes do not spread as this may lead to a new infestation.

Additionally, cutting is an exercise that must be done within a certain time frame because the Japanese knotweed tends to rapidly regenerate.  

When it comes to dispelling the cut remains of the Japanese knotweed, this has to be done professionally. For instance, where the remains are to be buried, you must ensure that they are taken to a site that is authorized to do so.

Besides, cutting as a way to get rid of Japanese knotweed is expedient because it does not lead to damage to the environment as compared to other methods such as using herbicides.

Experts maintain that for this method to be perfect one must consider including other methods in tandem to cutting such as the application of herbicides immediately after cutting. 

Chemical control

Considering the rapid nature of the growth of Japanese knotweed, the use of commercial chemicals to get rid of Japanese knotweed is a method that is recommended.

To this end, chemicals such as Roundup and Glyphosate are some of the readily available herbicides to kill the weed plant. Essentially, when using chemicals one must be cautious not to harm the surrounding environment.

This means that you must be familiar with the procedure for using such chemicals and also use the recommendable protective gear such as gloves and masks.

It is also advisable that an individual intending to apply chemicals to the weed plant carries proper due diligence as to the effects of such a product, if any, on the environment and human body to be able to avoid any possible health dangers.

Experts advise that once you spray the herbicides on the weed plant, for you to get rid of the Japanese knotweed, you need to give the chemicals time to work on the plant before proceeding to pull or clear it from your property.

Do not spray and pull the weed plant immediately. Preferably, use a shovel to successfully pull out the whole weed plant from the soil.

Mowing

Albeit similar to cutting, mowing involves the use of tools to constantly prune the Japanese knotweed to small pieces now and then to control the growth levels. For mowing to effectively work, it has to be done within 7 days.

The constant cutting impedes the quick growth of the weed plant. However, experts assert that mowing on its own may not eradicate the Japanese knotweed in its entirety, therefore; this method ought to be applied alongside other methods such as the use of commercial herbicides.

Digging out the roots

The root system of the Japanese knotweed can grow quite deep into the soil and if not completely removed from the round can be a menace and may hamper full eradication of the weed plant.

This means that even after following methods such as cutting and mowing, one should go further and try to get rid of the roots of this invasive weed plant. Digging the roots requires care to guarantee every fragment is taken out of the soil.

You can use home-based tools such as shovels to dig out the roots or in instances where the roots are ingrained very deep in the soil, you can choose to use an excavator machine.

However, the latter method can be quite expensive since you may need to hire the machines, and also excavators can damage your garden easily thus, would require extra restoration costs.

Use of barriers

The barriers that are recommended for use to get rid of Japanese knotweed are those that are plastic and impenetrable such that no sunlight or moisture can get through them.

Weed plants just like any other plant require water and sunlight for quick growth, therefore; depriving them of these two elements can go a long way in eradicating them in the long run.

The barriers in this instance ought to be placed above the soil surface where the Japanese knotweed has been cleared and on the vertical periphery of the property to ensure that no rhizome escapes from the edges.

Significantly, the use of barriers or tarps often works as a long-term measure hence it requires patience and endurance. You must constantly check on the sturdiness of the barriers.

Natural weed killers

Natural weed killers such as bleach, coffee, vinegar, or salt have been known to get rid of Japanese knotweed but not to a large extent.

The fact that the weed plant is highly invasive and challenging to eradicate forces many property owners to shy away from the natural weed killer elements since they may not work perfectly towards the thorough eradication of the weed.

Home-based simpler methods

Sometimes one may not need to go the long-range way to get rid of Japanese knotweed on their property. You can simply use home plastic bags to dispose of the weed. Ensure such bags are completely fastened and closed allowing no moisture inside.

You can also resort to burning the waste remains of the Japanese knotweed using incinerators. The wastes must be subjected to high temperatures to make sure none survive the burning.

Finally, burying the remains of the Japanese knotweed can be considered the other simpler method. The remains must not be buried together with other organic wastes and the disposal bags must be watertight so that no rhizome escapes.

Want to know more about how to get rid of Japanese Knotweed?

Knotweed Removal aims to provide the most up-to-date information, help and advice for YOU to make informed decisions. If you are unsure or uncertain about how to proceed, please reach out to us and we will gladly come back and advise you as best we can.

Governmental advice can be found here and the UK law covering the removal of Japanese Knotweed as stated under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 can be found here.

The best means to contact us is via our email – hello@knotweedremoval.tips

Do not forget we have a library of blogs covering many areas relevant to Japanese Knotweed, our free downloadable How-to Guides and Product Reviews on the latest methods being employed to eradicate or remove Japanese Knotweed.

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