Has the Japanese knotweed also called elephant’s ears, fleeceflower, sally rhubarb, and Japanese bamboo invaded your immediate environs? If you are situated anywhere in the eastern part of US, then your answer would be a big yes! This weed had not only attacked the United States but the rest of Northern America as well as Europe and the UK. To tell the truth, this plant is listed among the 100 most hostile species on earth.
What makes this group so victorious in displacing native plants in a vicinity is its ability to endure a whole range of growth factors such as salinity, soil types and pH. They can also endure freezing temperatures, as much as 30 degrees under zero Fahrenheit. The roots, or rhizomes, can grow up to seven meters in length horizontally and three meters down into the soil. You may remove the plants again and again only to be met with fresh growth developing from the roots. Talk about survival and you will find the Japanese bamboo high up on that list.
Its main areas of environment are those which have been exposed to human disturbance such as lowlands and other trash areas. Nevertheless, it must be observed that they too like soggy soil with loads of sunlight so your lawn and garden are as susceptible to the weed attack as much as riverbanks and roadsides. Even a tiny root which you had dumped after cleaning the garden can be the start of a new flourishing Japanese bamboo community in your previously useful landfill.
But did you know that the invasive Japanese knotweed was first transported to the UK and then into United States for ornamental purposes. It even earned an award in a plant competition back then. Slowly, people have come to realize what they have carried with them. The menace they have planted in their gardens to increase beauty to it will turn out to be one of the most invasive plants today. Not only is Japanese bamboo invasive, but it is also nearly imperishable. You can’t simply cut it and anticipate it to die. If you do so, the tendency would be for the plant to sprawl and get back the area over and over and then it develops into a never-ending and exhausting cycle.
If you are really eager on your Japanese knotweed removal project, the primary word of advice is that these weeds are difficult to get rid of. Thus you have to take a versatile approach into totally eliminating them in your neighborhood. The most widely used method of elimination for this weed is the application of authorized herbicides. On the other hand, there are other ways of elimination without the use of chemicals though these procedures usually take more time. Thus, it would be best to solicit recommendations from authorities or hire the assistance of a company that narrows down on the correct elimination of the invasive plant.