On 04/06/2014 22:46, T Blake wrote:
"David Hill" wrote in message
...
On 30/05/2014 19:56, Kate wrote:
Hi
I was surprised by some advice in this weeks Spectator page 20 from the
broadcaster Jonathan Dimbleby:
"Beware of knotweed conmen. You don't need smoothies in Range Rovers,
white boiler suits and goggles who charge more than your house is worth
to get rid of the stuff. The weedkiller Roundup does just as well for a
fraction of the price."
Can this really be true?? I have always heard that it's nearly impossible
to get rid of!
Kate xx
Just surprised no one has linked to the RHS advice on Jap. Knotweed
http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=218
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Japanese deal with knotweed effectively without poison or digging, and in
the same way deal effectively with bamboo; another plant people have trouble
with if it starts spreading.
The way is all down to watching the calendar and having patience.
For some reason the plant gives up psychologically and physically if
*young* shoots' are attacked.
Cut everything down and wait for the young shoots to come up, then cut them
down; a week or two later cut down the new shoots and a week or two later
again cut down the young shoots. All young shoots must be dealt with, but
they become less and less.
For some reason these plants 'just give up' if you deter the *new* shoots.
Japanese children pick the young shoots when they are about 10 cm in length,
peel them and eat them. This regular attendance has long been known to kill
the plant.
This effective method requires someone to keep coming back to deal with
young shoots. It's simple, but requires timing and perseverance.
I think that most people don't realise that the young shoots have been
used as a food stuff for many years.
The young, Spring shoots can be cooked and eaten after peeling to reveal
the white core. They have a mild rhubarb flavour, due to the presence of
oxalic acid (hence some of the common names)
Donkey rhubarb, Gypsy rhubarb, Japanese bamboo, Mexican bamboo, Sally
rhubarb