Do you have a problem with Knotweed in your garden? Well, here are the do’s and don’ts to help you mitigate this issue.
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What To Do
• Have a plan to remove Japanese Knotweed from your site effortlessly. This will often include contacting experts in Japanese Knotweed removal such as Environet.
• Contact the Environment Agency National Customer Contact Centre to get more information on how to prevent the spread and control of Japanese Knotweed.
• Use the right herbicides safely and effectively.
• Make sure you have the approval of the Environment agency before any treatment especially if you are planning to use the herbicide near a water source.
• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions when it comes to protective clothing and using herbicides safely and effectively.
• Take a lot of care to avoid drift or any damage to other plants when using herbicides to take care of Japanese Knotweed. When spraying herbicides, make sure the weather is dry without rain for at least 6 hours.
• Check qualifications before using herbicides. For instance, before spraying on another individual’s land, make sure you hire an approved contractor for the job.
What You Need To Avoid
• Avoid flailing the plant since it will make it spread. You are advised to cut it with sharp hooks, slashers or pull it by hand to avoid dispersing the cut fragments.
• Avoid spreading the stems and crowns of Japanese Knotweed. If you cut down the stem, you need to dispose of it on the site. Anything taken off-site should be properly contained and disposed of at a licensed disposal site.
• Avoid digging up the weed since it will increase the stem density. Note that, cutting a tiny fragment of the weed will lead to regeneration.
• Avoid spreading soil that is contaminated with Japanese Knotweed. Note that, any soil coming from the ground within 7 meters of the plant could be contaminated. Keep in mind that it is highly regenerative and can easily grow into new plants.
• Avoid chipping the material. Keep in mind that mechanical chippers will not kill the plant. If you spread the chipped material, the plant will most likely regenerate.
• Avoid adding Japanese Knotweed to compost materials. You need to compost it separately, especially using plastic sheeting to prevent any rooting. You should make sure that it is completely dead before you apply it to land.
• Avoid taking the plant to recycling centers that taken garden waste since it will contaminate the compost.
• Avoid dumping any garden waste contaminated with the weed in the countryside to avoid regeneration.
• If you notice the weed in your garden, you need to treat it immediately without wasting any time. It will become worse if it becomes established.
Keep in mind that spreading Japanese Knotweed is illegal so you need to be careful about how you handle it.