Female Flower Structure

You have been weeding your little green patch out front, dreaming to have rows of beautiful flowering plants after a few months. But, to your utter frustration, you found that a small area at the corner of your garden has been invaded by the notorious Japanese knotweed. Finding a patch of weeds in a garden is not a reason to be alarmed. It is but a common incident to find some unwanted wild plants growing amongst your flowers every now and then. You can just weed them out if they pose too much of a threat. However, this is not the case with the Japanese knotweed. Weeding them out as well as completely eradicating them from your little green patch is one big challenge.

The single characteristic that makes this plant very hard to control is because of its underground stem system, or rootstock, which has the ability to produce new plants. A small part of the rootstock, one weighing 0.7 grams and as big as the nail of your little finger, is a viable plant and very much capable of growing into a four foot plant by the end of the summer.

If you think you can easily get rid of them using the usual weeding implement that you use well then think again. The root of this pesky plant can grow three meters in the ground. Yes, that's almost ten feet deep into the soil. Not only that, they can grow to up to seven meters horizontally. And no, the frost won't be able to kill them. The rootstock can survive subzero temperatures as well as tolerate a wide range of soil and weather conditions.

There are basically two ways that you can approach Japanese knotweed removal: the use of herbicides and the less aggressive way of controlling it which is through a systematic method of killing the weed through natural means. If you want to get the best result you must use a technique which targets the roots since these are the most viable part of the plant.

The most effective herbicide to use for the complete riddance of Japanese knotweed is glyphosate. This is a broad spectrum herbicide which is used to kill perennial weeds. It is usually sprayed to the plant and the leaves readily absorb it. It can also be injected into the trunk of the plant. It works by inhibiting the enzyme production of the plant. Take note that it is only effective in plants growing actively and its effects are insubstantial as a pre-emergence weed control.

But before you decide on using glyphosate, or any other chemical for that matter, you have to be aware of the risks and other considerations. First concern is if your garden, especially the patch of Japanese knotweed, is located near a body of water. In the UK, consent is required from the Environment Agency if you will be using herbicides near waterways. Also, health and safety issues must be considered. Herbicides must be used as per label instructions if not it is deemed as an offense.

If you choose the natural way of eliminating the invasive Japanese knotweed for good, be ready for a long and arduous process. This is the way to go if you are dealing with just a small patch such as the one you found in your garden since it doesn't involve chemicals. Just remember to dispose of the plant accordingly. Regular pulling will eventually weaken the rootstock and kill the plant, but this can take years. Cutting can also be done. Just be sure to collect all the cuttings after, dry them out and burn them, or you can have them disposed in a licensed landfill.

Jo is a content writer for Japanese Knotweed Solutions, (), specialists in elimination. If you are a devoted gardener, a home builder or a nature lover, sooner or later you will come across this pervasive nuisance. Japanese Knotweed is one of the most destructive weeds, producing enormous amounts of damage every year to homes, public building, and the countryside.