Can You Cut Japanese Knotweed?
It is tempting to try and clear Japanese knotweed yourself and hope that the problem will go away, or that other plants will stop the knotweed from growing back. This is not the case.
Do you believe you have Japanese Knotweed on your property? Well, this article is all about why you should not cut Japanese knotweed…
It is tempting to try and clear Japanese knotweed yourself and hope that the problem will go away, or that other plants will stop the knotweed from growing back. This is not the case.
Cutting Japanese knotweed can cause cross contamination. If a fragment of the rhizome (this can be as small as your thumbnail) enters another patch of soil in your garden, then another stand of Japanese knotweed can start to grow, and the cycle of infestation starts again. You will then have the same problem but in a larger area.
If you do want to get the knotweed treated, and you have cut the knotweed down to ground level, this will make it harder to treat. The glyphosate used in a treatment works by absorbing through the foliage. This means that the smaller the surface area, the less effective the treatment is.
It is also tempting to dispose of the Japanese knotweed stalks in your brown bin, but this could result in you receiving a fine (as per the Environmental Protection Act 1990). You have to declare Japanese knotweed stalks in order for it to be taken to a landfill or household waste recycling site. Depending on the site’s individual requirements, you may be asked for a soil analysis, or to take the knotweed to a specialised facility. This can cost you both time and money.
Japanese Knotweed Expert Ltd. recommend that the stand is left untouched throughout the identification and treatment process. If you require immediate removal, then an excavation should be carried out by a Japanese knotweed specialist. To find out more about how we can treat or remove Japanese knotweed from your site, get in touch.