Japanese knotweed is one of the most popular invasive plants in the whole world. It is also known as “Godzilla weed” that has the same characteristic as the fictional monster. It literally ruins and damages someone’s garden and landscape.
Japanese knotweed is known for its being persistent and is notable for growing to the solid foundation of the soil. If you find a group of Japanese knotweed in your backyard, you can try these basic methods to get rid of this persistent plant, this monstrous plant requires a consistent removal to manage it.
- Dig out the rhizomes (roots)
- Cut the plant to the ground
- Kill it with the use of an herbicide
- Make use of the tarps
Japanese Knotweed Characteristics
Japanese knotweed is part of the buckwheat family and was brought to the West from Japan in the 19th century. It is used as a landscaping ornamental plants due to being small, has heart-shaped leaves, and bamboo-like stems.
But actually, this plant has the ability to spread like a monstrous wildfire, having its own and independent life. Japanese knotweeds favorite place is a sunny and moist area such as riverbanks, lawns, gardens, and roadsides.
Japanese knotweed hates the forested areas, that’s why they are usually grown in some areas that are reachable by humans. They’ll love to grow in an area that has sunlight and crumbly soil to support its roots.
Signs that You Need to Remove Japanese Knotweed
Timing is important to fight this persistent Japanese knotweed. Getting rid of this plant permanently requires an effective strategy to make large infestations that requires consistent actions throughout the whole year.
- Make use of the tarps – during the spring season
- Use herbicide spray – during the summer or early season
- Cut them all – during the whole summer season
- Dig out the roots – during the spring seasons before using the tarps
Prepare the Materials Needed
- Poly tarps
- Garden sprayer
- Big rocks and other weights equipment
- Pruning tools
- Shovel
- Rake
- Herbicide
- Garbage bags
Instructions for Getting Rid of Japanese Knotweed
- Prepare the area, cut down weed canes and don’t forget to remove loose materials.
- Use the tarps and cover the grounds as needed. It is recommended to overlap tarps so no sunlight can penetrate to the plants.
- Put some weights on the tarps so it won’t lift or blown away by the wind.
- Always make sure that you leave the tarps intact and in place to choke the weeds. Regardless of how long it’ll be smothered, the tarp will serve as your protection against the Japanese knotweeds invasions.
Make Use of the Herbicide
Kill the Japanese knotweed by using a weed killer called “herbicide”. One of the most recommended product for killing this persistent weed is a glyphosate-based herbicide. Glyphosate herbicides can kill the weed instantly by mixing it with the water and manually applied it to the leaves using a garden sprayer. You may also inject the herbicide mixture to their stems and canes.
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