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Knotweed or 'knot'

martin_hardingmartin_harding Posts: 26
in Problem solving
Hi all, 

I've been asked by my sister to do a little clearing job while she's on holiday - the thing is, she says that she and her boyfriend think it's knotweed, which immediately makes me wary.  Would you be able to ID the plant in the pic and give me an idea what it is? 



Thanks in advance, 

Martin
«1

Posts

  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 10,497
    Are they confusing knotweed with bindweed? Either way it doesn't bite so get a closer pic if you can ;)
    If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
  • martin_hardingmartin_harding Posts: 26
    Not sure, I'll see if I can score a closer shot
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445
    i can see ivy, cotinus, a kid's ball, a clothes line and pegs, a fern. If there's another plant there that needs ID you need to get closer


    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • martin_hardingmartin_harding Posts: 26
    Right, got some close-up shots: 


  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 10,497
    Yep bindweed.
    If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
  • martin_hardingmartin_harding Posts: 26
    Thanks for that - any special tips for getting rid of it all? 
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445
    ivy and bindweed. still working on a plan to remove bindweed



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • josusa47josusa47 Posts: 3,530
    You can control it by pulling it out at ground level whenever it appears, but total elimination takes great commitment.  It spreads by whitish underground stems called rhizomes, which store water and energy.  The green part of the plant dies back to ground level in winter, and you might think you'd got rid of it, but come the spring, it romps away again, drawing on the stored resources.  You can dig out the rhizomes, but not without disturbing the surrounding plants, and the smallest bit of rhizome grows into a new plant.  It's a pity it's such a nuisance because the flowers are lovely.
  • martin_hardingmartin_harding Posts: 26
    Yeah, apparently the rhizomes can go down as far as five metres - don't think that's on the menu 😁
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    edited June 2018
    It's the only thing I use glychophosphate gel on. Rub a bit on the back of some leaves and the plant(s) will die back over a month or two.
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