What is Japanese knot weed?
Japanese knotweed, as known by its Latin name ‘Fallopian japonica’, is weed grows and spreads rapidly and everywhere like wildfire, expect more greener and less fire… These pestering plants can grow up to 7 ft. nearly towering over many plants, and people too! They anchor themselves up with deeply-penetrating underground roots and stems. In the spring these plants emerge with red and purple shoots from pink buds. Throughout the summer and autumn, they extend their stems until winter, where they die down back to ground level. They produce heart-shaped leaves and also creamy white tassels which hang throughout late summer and early autumn. These clump-forming dense stems share similar looks to bamboo shoot canes, the Himalayan honeysuckle, and many species of persicaria (red dragon plants)
Why is it a problem?
Ever since the Japanese knotweed was introduced to England during the 1800s, due to its rapid growth properties, this plant has spread and infested large chunks of England. These plants can cause chaos and tear through anything such as wooden fences and even brick walls, it makes it difficult to control its spread area. These plants are so invasive that they are apart of new legislation in the government, the Schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 condemns it to be grown in the wild and the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 includes the native plant. If these ruthless plants aren’t controlled, then it can become an infestation; it’s difficult to stop due their speed and the careful procedures needed to eradicate them.
How do we stop it?
It takes around a year to try and destroy Japanese knotweed suing weed killer, though the stronger the chemical is, the quicker. Other than chemical control, it is possible to cut the canes to dry out and then proceed to burn them. Digging out as much root can destroying re growth is also a step towards controlling it and removing it. When disposing the Japanese knotweed, it is classified under ‘controlled waste, it should be put away at licensed landfill sites with special contractors to safely remove them from the site. However, recent studies at a Swansea University show that due to the huge amount already in the country it is not possible to eradicate it, rather instead they persuade up to control and cantina it as much as possible.
Even experts such as Nic seal, the managing director of Environet say “I don't think it will ever be eradicated from the UK, but I think it will eventually be brought under control as techniques improve and greater resources are expended. When that will happen is anyone's guess, but I'd wager not in my lifetime.”
