Content
- Japanese knotweed: How to remove the monster
- Mechanical methods - elaborate but effective
- Completely remove covered area
- Mowing or grazing
- Cover with foil
- Ripping / digging
- Tips
The Japanese knotweed should be removed before flowering so that it can not multiply any further
Japanese knotweed: How to remove the monster
Towards the end of the 19th century, the Knotweed was imported from Japan to be planted in this country as a prolific fodder plant for wild animals. These did not take the unknown plant until today, but the Riesenknöterich has mutated in many parts of the country to the hard-to-fight plague.
Mechanical methods - elaborate but effective
The problem is not so much the rapid and lush growth of Japanese potato, but rather its sheer spread. The plant is a deep root, which also drives out every year from their rhizomes again. In addition, it is able to generate offshoots - ie even the smallest root parts - even offshoots. Therefore, control is only successful if all plant parts, even microscopic ones, are carefully disposed of.
Completely remove covered area
If you want to be on the safe side, only a radical measure will help: Cut the plants just above the ground and burn the plant parts best. Then lift the entire covered area to a depth of about three meters - and dispose of the complete excavation. In order to render harmless possibly still remaining root parts harmless, a plastic foil comes to the bottom of the pit. On top fill up new topsoil.
Mowing or grazing
If you do not want to be so radical, get some sheep and / or goats. After some time of habituation, these lawn mowers on four legs eat up the Japanese knotweed, although the roots remain in the ground. However, these die after a few years, as long as the plant is repeatedly prevented from re-emergence. If animals are not desired, mow the vegetation every two weeks with a lawnmower - but be careful: this must then be thoroughly cleaned!
Cover with foil
Also tedious, but often successful in addition to the short-term cover covering the covered area with a thick, black film - this simply makes sure that the plant starves from the bottom up.
Ripping / digging
If you have so far found only a few shoots of the Japanese knotweed: tear them out and dig them up again and again!
Tips
Many gardeners swear by the removal of the Japanese knotweed broadband herbicides, which are best injected directly into the rootstock. Please bear in mind, however, that Roundup & Co. are generally not approved for private consumption and are therefore subject to authorization.