Methods for Permanent Japanese Knotweed Removal

Permanent Japanese knotweed removal is not easy based on its defiance nature to grow beyond any boundary and leave on its trail significant damage to the environment, property and buildings.

The following sections explain the methods one can consider using to achieve full eradication of this stubborn weed.

Excavation and landfill

This approach mainly involves the use of machines called excavators to unearth the Japanese knotweed together with its root system and, additionally dig up the infested soil and take it to a landfill zone that is specialist in the disposal of unwanted waste.

To achieve permanent Japanese knotweed removal using this method here is what you must do:

1. Choose the proper equipment or tools – in cases where the Japanese knotweed has not yet developed fully meaning its root system is not deeply ingrained into the soil, you can choose to make do with home-based tools such as a shovel or a digging hoe to excavate the roots out of the soil. Where the weed plant is fully grown such that the roots run deep into the soil, you must make use of machines (excavators). The use of excavators poses some challenges including, the cost aspect attached to hiring such machines, the need to create access routes for the machines to reach the infested site and finally the possible damage to the land which may render it desolate if no efforts are put into place to restore it for future usage.
2. Packaging – it is vital that the pieces of the Japanese knotweed that have been dug out together with the surrounding soil are put into packages or any suitable materials that are completely sealable to avoid any spills whilst the waste will be in transit to the landfill site. It is always advised that you should hire professional carrier services to do this job but if hard-pressed money-wise, nothing stops you from doing this by yourself.
3. Licensed landfill – always ensure the intended landfill site for the final disposal of the waste material is authorized to handle such material. Do not just take it to any place and dump it. Also, as a matter of prudence, alert the concerned persons working at the landfill site early in advance to prepare to receive the waste.

Herbicide Treatment

Basically, herbicides are chemical products that are industrially manufactured for the purpose of treatment of various weeds.

Most of these chemicals, including, the ones for treating Japanese knotweed have a non-restrictive use therefore even private property owners can readily purchase them from approved sellers within their locality.

To this end, the recommendable herbicides when it comes to treating Japanese knotweed are those that contain glyphosate an example being Roundup.

Herbicides are deemed to be effective in achieving permanent Japanese knotweed removal within a short time if applied properly. Accordingly, each herbicide has special guidelines for an application that must be followed for effective results.

Therefore, it is prudent that prior to using any herbicide you familiarize yourself with the rules of application.

Additionally, herbicides work better when the cases of the Japanese knotweed have been cut down such that the herbicides are sprayed directly into the remaining plant remnant that is ingrained in the soil.

However, there are cases where the herbicide is introduced to the plant through injection as a DIY method. Once you have applied the herbicide, you must give it a time frame of at least 7 days then start pulling out the decayed waste from the ground.

As a precautionary measure when using herbicides, it is always safe to ensure that you have put on protective gear; hand gloves and masks. Safety must be paramount, notwithstanding the type of herbicide chosen for the purpose of eliminating the invasive weed plant.

You must also carry out due diligence in terms of identifying the extent of damage that can be caused as a result of using the herbicide within a certain location, for instance, if there is a water body within or the presence of public water piping systems, you must refrain from using the herbicide in such an area or use them with extreme caution.

If the herbicide is to be used within a neighbourhood that has animals and children in plenty, you must put in place measures to protect them against any adverse effects of the herbicide, for instance, you may request that they do not play near the sprayed locale at least until the chemical has cleared.

Using herbicides effectively adds to the list of methods that can aid you in permanent Japanese knotweed removal for good.

Burning Japanese knotweed

Burning as a method of permanent Japanese knotweed removal has been hailed as one of the most effective approaches to eradicating the weed if done following the right steps.

After the very first step of cutting the canes of the Japanese knotweed has happened, for a person intending to burn the invasive weed, the following steps should be taken:

1. Complete drying of the cane and any fragment is meant to derive the weed of moisture.
2. Use an incinerator with high temperatures so that the weed is subjected to high heat to ensure no rhizome survives the process.
3. Transportation and disposal – the burnt substance must be transported in enclosed containers to avoid any spillage along the way. Preferably, an authorized carrier should be contacted to do this. It is important to note that no other waste materials should be carried together with the burnt weed.
4. The burnt substance of the remains of the Japanese knotweed must be disposed of in an authorized landfill site that has the capacity to do so. Such substances should not be dumped anywhere as this may pose the risk of having a re-growth.

Cut and dispel

Cutting as a permanent Japanese knotweed removal approach has been hailed as an effective method directed toward 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.

Want to know more about permanent Japanese knotweed removal?

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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