All you need to know about Japanese knotweed weed

All you need to know about Japanese knotweed weed? Japanese knotweed weed is a very invasive plant that can spread rapidly due to warm weather, high soil compaction, and short growing conditions. It was earlier considered a weed by many people, with the saying, “Knotweed is good for nothing”. The common name for this plant is knotted and is very hardy, resistant, and climbing, which makes it ideal for gardens and lawns. It blooms in spring and is a landscape and beauty plant.

What is Japanese knotweed weed

Japanese knotweed, synonyms Fallopia japonica, Polygonum capsicum, is a large perennial plant of the grass and weed family Polygonaceae. It is widely used as a landscape and lawn weed, it is resistant to common weed killers and very tough in the shade. It is a fast-growing perennial that has dark green foliage and white flowers. It has several uses and is quite common in Asia, it is native to East Asia in Japan, China, and Korea.

Why is Japanese knotweed weed Dangerous for garden

Most invasive weeds

The Japanese knotweed is one of the most invasive weeds in the UK and Europe. As it forms huge masses underground, it is very difficult to remove it by traditional means, such as digging. It also forms in public gardens and is particularly troublesome in communal gardens where there’s nowhere to go.  

Japanese Knotweeds can be fatal

Japanese Knotweeds can be fatal to livestock. They are particularly harmful to sheep and can prevent them from grazing safely. The damage they can cause to fences and walls is immense. You would need to totally destroy the entire garden to keep any of these weeds out, which isn’t easy when you have a large open field next to your house.it destroys soil quickly. They grow in soil that is very loose and this means that it’s very difficult to eradicate them. After only a few years, your garden will have totally gone. This is especially true if the infestation has spread into your neighboring gardens!

How to get rid of this weed

By digging canes next to the edge where they are growing

A good way of controlling this invasive plant is by digging canes next to the edge where they are growing, this will stop them from spreading out and making room for them to die back into the ground. You can then use a mesh screen to surround the canes, this will help to stop them getting through. If you do want to use a mesh screen, you should buy one that is specially made for weed control. You can also apply insecticide to the weeds, but remember that if you do this you need to wear protective eye goggles, long sleeves, thick clothing and rubber gloves. Japanese knotweed can be a real pest when it starts growing in the soil, if it gets to a certain density it will actually kill your plants.

Few simple steps through which you can take control this Japanese knotweed

There are a few simple steps you can take to control this Japanese knotweed; the first is to prune the root system which will prevent them from growing further. You can do this by removing any dying canes or leaves. When you do this it is important to make sure that they are removed and that there is nothing growing directly under them. You should also make sure that you have removed any grasses that grow alongside the garden beds, this will also discourage them from growing in your garden as well. After this is done you can restock your garden and leave it to grow naturally.

Japanese knotweed weed is a tough weed to get rid of

The Japanese knotweed weed is a tough weed to get rid of, but if you are willing to spend some time, you can remove it from most of your garden area. However, if you live in an area where this weed is present you must act quickly. They can grow quickly and you need to act fast to prevent them from spreading to other gardens or planting locations. What is really helpful is if you can catch them before they grow too much. That way you can eliminate them from your garden completely. They will not only eat your valuable plants but also your valuable harvest, that means if you have a crop to harvest you could be out of money!