Whether you are bothered with the creeping knotweed, which is quite popular as a climbing plant, or with the gigantic growing Japanese knotweed: Both types of knotweed are characterized by extremely fast growth, rapid spread and exceptional robustness. These characteristics often make complete and lasting removal difficult and a lengthy process.
How to successfully remove knotweed?
To effectively remove knotweed, cut off all above-ground parts of the plant, dig generously around the root area and remove all root pieces. Alternatively, you can cut back the knotweed regularly or cover it with black foil to inhibit growth.
Herbicides require approval
Some gardeners are desperate enough to kill the recurring knotweed with the help of poison. Roundup, a broad-spectrum herbicide also known as glyphosate, is usually used for this purpose. However, such use is not without dangers, because herbicides not only destroy the unwanted knotweed, but also all other plants in the area - and are also highly toxic. It's not without reason that Roundup has been criticized for years. Apart from that, the use of such means is not permitted for private use and therefore requires approval.
Radically remove knotweed
Ergo, as a gardener, you usually have no choice but to put a lot of effort and patience into eliminating the knotweed. It is extremely important that you remove any plant parts, no matter how small, and dispose of them carefully - but please do not put them in the organic waste bin or on the compost. Knotweed always grows back from even the smallest pieces of root. The best way to remove it is as follows:
- Cut the above-ground parts of the plant down to just above the ground.
- Dispose of them carefully, preferably by burning them.
- Now dig out a generously sized pit.
- Dig these out about three meters deep.
- Dispose of the excavation.
- Cover the bottom of the pit with a plastic sheet.
- Fill new topsoil into the pit.
Other methods for knotweed removal
Admittedly, the method described above is quite radical. If you want to proceed less uncompromisingly, we recommend the following approaches.
Mowing / cutting back
One possibility is to keep preventing the knotweed from sprouting. Remove the young, recurring shoots regularly, for example with the help of secateurs (€14.00 on Amazon) or a lawnmower. If there is a large-scale infestation of Japanese knotweed, you can also allow sheep and/or goats to graze the area. This action will starve the roots and eventually cause the plant to die.
Cover with black foil
You can intensify the effect even more if you cover the radically cut knotweed with a thick, black film. However, this method is only recommended in combination with short holding. No matter how you want to get rid of your knotweed, you need patience. It may take up to five years until you have finally eliminated the growth.
Tip
You can simply dispose of the young shoots of Japanese knotweed by eating them.
