Knotweed 1 Humans 0

axisus

It appears that officially we can't kill the stuff! The world is doomed

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-43882916

I'm surprised that in this day and age we can't defeat a plant.

rsvmark

I thought glyphosate kills it? The article suggests only weak solutions were used. Stem injections I believe are a recommended method for tackling it. Either that or fire!

Nitefly

My dad killed it with Jeyes Fluid and digging.  Lots of digging.

boogieman

rsvmark said:

I thought glyphosate kills it? The article suggests only weak solutions were used. Stem injections I believe are a recommended method for tackling it. Either that or fire!

Trouble is Glyphosate is being phased out in the next few years due to EU rulings, although I imagine professional gardner’s will still be able to buy and use it. You can dig knotweed out but it’s a never ending job because if there’s the tiniest bit of root left the bastard stuff will come back. 

ESBlonde

The Key quote is here:
The trials covered the four main herbicide groups used in weed control. The chemical found to be the most effective was glyphosate. However, very low doses were applied - the lowest of all the other herbicides used.

If you water down the one effective chemical it will reach a point where it is no longer effective and might even help the plant develope a resistance?

Glyphosate is used a lot in food production and growing levels of residue in our bodies (and the animals we might eat) are a concern. Not using the one effective control on knotweed seems silly given that it presently only occupies a small area of the country. If it expands because of a lack of control we'll potentially have to use far more in the future.

Anyway all plants need access to sunlight, denying that over a prolonged period will kill any plant. the trick is to contain the runs of roots where you can monitor the shoots and hack them back.

crunchman

That article doesn't seem to mention this:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4546960/Plant-eating-insect-finally-kill-Japanese-knotweed.html

Once we leave the EU, and can make our own rules.  We could keep using Glyphospate on Knotweed even if it is banned for general use.

axisus

crunchman said:

That article doesn't seem to mention this:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4546960/Plant-eating-insect-finally-kill-Japanese-knotweed.html

Once we leave the EU, and can make our own rules.  We could keep using Glyphospate on Knotweed even if it is banned for general use.

Although in all fairness, I'm sure it is banned for being nasty stuff that we shouldn't be chucking all over the environment.

crunchman

axisus said:

crunchman said:

That article doesn't seem to mention this:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4546960/Plant-eating-insect-finally-kill-Japanese-knotweed.html

Once we leave the EU, and can make our own rules.  We could keep using Glyphospate on Knotweed even if it is banned for general use.

Although in all fairness, I'm sure it is banned for being nasty stuff that we shouldn't be chucking all over the environment.

We've been chucking it all over the environment for decades.

We need to stop indiscriminate use - especially in food production - but targeted use on specific knotweed sites should be ok.  The problem is that monolithic EU rules won't allow for that.

west

Glysophate is a known carcinogen ( even thoght the 'who ' tried to hide the fact .... filthy stuff

japanese knotweed has a health benefit, its high in resveratrol in fact i think significantly higher than red wine , great for circulation heart health and insulin stability .... 1-1 

Garthy

west said:

Glysophate is a known carcinogen ( even thoght the 'who ' tried to hide the fact .... filthy stuff

japanese knotweed has a health benefit, its high in resveratrol in fact i think significantly higher than red wine , great for circulation heart health and insulin stability .... 1-1 

Red wine doesn’t knock your house down though.

Bluebeard

The EU voted to keep using Glysophate at the end of last year

thecolourbox

In fairness, it can't kill us either so it's more like a score draw at most

crunchman

Just googled and found this:

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/oct/24/eu-brink-historic-decision-pervasive-glyphosate-weedkiller

Seems to cover most of the issues.

Use of the stuff needs to be restricted, but if it's the only thing that kills knotweed then if it's injected into the plant rather than sprayed, it's not going to do too much harm.  Given the amount of the stuff that has been indiscriminately used over the last 40 plus years, a small amount of targeted use shouldn't cause any significant problems.

menamestom

axisus said:

I'm surprised that in this day and age we can't defeat a plant.

Problem is it's everywhere, you'd have to fight it everywhere all the time, which just isn't practical.

thecolourbox said:

In fairness, it can't kill us either so it's more like a score draw at most

Not directly but its effects can be dangerous. Its root system can easily push over a brick wall or damage a concrete bridge.  The trouble is by the time it's found, the damage has often been done. 

So I'd say a Knotweed win, penalty shootout after extra time

Bucket

I called shotgun on Knotweed as a band name ages ago.

As for how to kill it... did they try fire? Or Agent Orange? Or nuking it from space to be on the safe side?

Garthy

Bucket said:

I called shotgun on Knotweed as a band name ages ago.

As for how to kill it... did they try fire? Or Agent Orange? Or nuking it from space to be on the safe side?

Fire makes it stronger as it kills off the competition but not the knotweed. It's truly horrible stuff.

WezV

My in laws just contributed 50% of a £4K bill to have in removed from a neighbours property.  This included initial removal and multiple treatments over a few years and a guarantee they will repeat the process if it returns within a certain timeframe.

they reported it to the neighbour, who just chopped it back.  It was stressing the MIL so much they offered to contribute to its removal and subsequent treatment 

Bucket

Garthy said:

Bucket said:

I called shotgun on Knotweed as a band name ages ago.

As for how to kill it... did they try fire? Or Agent Orange? Or nuking it from space to be on the safe side?

Fire makes it stronger as it kills off the competition but not the knotweed. It's truly horrible stuff.

Wow, shit.

Does strengthen its cause as a name for a metal band though, I have to say.

57Deluxe

Just Had a BRILLUANT IDEA!!!!

Terraform MARS with it!!

http://www.fryxgames.se/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/TMbox.jpg

equalsql

My brother had a large patch growing in his garden. He chopped it down to ground level, carefully bagging the cuttings which he then burnt. Then injected a shit load of Glysophate into the exposed cut root ends. Two years later he's had no grow-back so hopefully that's the end of the problem.

mellowsun

It could be a useful food - tastes like rhubarb when cooked and as a poster mentioned above, it's good for you!