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Unknown Plant / Weed
in Plants
Can anyone help me identify what this plant / weed is. It suddenly appeared in an area of soil and grew incredible quick. Just want to be sure i know what it is before i pull it out.
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Oh dear..I fear it is the dreaded Fallopia japonica...Japanese knotweed.
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=Fallopia+japonica&rlz=1C1GNAM_en-GBGB687GB687&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjCldaglYHUAhUEOsAKHS8qCEQQ_AUICigB&biw=1536&bih=759
It may have come from the next door garden.
I hate weed killer..but in this case I make an exception..Glyphosate/Round up...which is taken down through the leaves to the roots and kills it from the bottom up. It is not an instant killer but does work.
It may need re spraying if it re appears.
Do not attemp to dig it out.
Do not put in the compost heap/council green waste.
Even tiny bits will regrow.
Last edited: 21 May 2017 15:17:01
Thanks for the advice. I may opt for the weed killer route as seems like the best way to get to the roots
Last edited: 21 May 2017 15:20:05
You must try to eradicate it.
I have hear that if a surveyor sees it the mortgage companies can refuse a loan.
People cannot sell their homes.
It can come up through tarmac...concrete ...inside houses.
It cost UK millions to get rid of it before the Opympic games.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-444648/Attack-super-weed-hits-Olympics.html
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=knotweed+invasion&rlz=1C1GNAM_en-GBGB687GB687&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwio1saHmIHUAhWEJcAKHd7jDtgQ_AUICigB&biw=1536&bih=759
It was brought into UK by the Victorians as the flowers are beautiful......but do not let it fool you.
Check the other side of the fence as well to make sure you eradicate all of it.
There are professionals who would do this if it is affecting your land it might be worth paying to get it removed.
'You must have some bread with it me duck!'
Definately Japanese knotweed, you can ring your local council to get it removed
Yup knotweed.....I've just spent over 8 years getting rid of mine....celebrating my first knotweed free year! Yay!
Glyphosate and patience is the only way to get rid. Until Aphalara Itadori arrives that is....
Recommend Roundup gel....more targeted than the liquid.
Last edited: 21 May 2017 18:42:19
Councils won't do anything unless it's on council land. Even then....
The best method is injecting weedkiller into the stems. That's the current, favoured way of doing it, although I think you need a specialist to do that. You need to be really methodical and vigilant if you do it yourself.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Can be done though....
http://www.gardenersworld.com/forum/problem-solving/knotweed-free-garden/996193.html
I would advise against anything other than calling in professionals (if you have a few grand to spare) or direct stem injection treatment if you fancy tackling this almighty beast yourself.
Most off-the-shelf bottles of Glyphosate spray or touchup gel will do very little and it will just laugh in your face. A serious dose will make it drop it leaves in panic, which may leave it unsprayable for the rest of the season, and undeterred, still produce flowers before dying off on the surface but growing in strength undergournd to reappear with a score to settle next Spring.
Certain qualities of this plant make it so unique, so utterly brutal and so underestimated in its capabilities to regenerate; yet seemingly dismissed as over-hyped many people (guess they've never come face-to-face with it).
JK is like an alien species from outer-space and you need to treat it with absolute respect as you deal it a killer blow otherwise it will cripple you financially and mentally and the best way do this is delicately pump a very strong weedkiller straight into its heart.