In article ,
lid says...

"Spider" wrote in message
...
"Charlie Pridham" wrote in message
T...
In article , lid
says...
"Stuart Noble" wrote in message
m...
I've read everything I can find online about Japanese Knotweed but I
wonder how effective plastic sheeting might be in smothering it. The
front
garden in question won't have anything done to it for a year, so it
would
be a convenient time to cover it and treat any shoots appearing at the
edges. There is thick concrete either side, so with luck it won't find
its
way past that. However, I don't want to create a damp hothouse
environment
that might make matters worse over the summer. Any advice appreciated

Hi Stuart,

When we moved to this house and garden nearly 30 years ago, there were
two
or three stands of Japenese Knotweed. At that time, I didn't know what
it
was, just that it was a menace. We called it Doomweed then, and still
do!

I spent a couple of years doing nothing in the garden but digging it out
..
waiting for it to reappear .. digging it out ... Eventually, I got to
the
point where it was considerably weakened, but some furled red shoots
still
appeared. Whilst in this weakened state, we liberally blasted it with
glyphosate, firstly as directed, then neat. We got rid of it! :~).
There
is no really effective way of eradicating it, except blood, sweat and
tears
followed by Glyphosate. If it's in your neighbour's garden too and
they're
not willing to shift it, then I'm afraid you're doomed. Moving house is
probably easier :~(.

Alas, I have noticed a huge stand of Jap. Knotweed in my rear
neighbour's
garden. I'm watching it very, very carefully. *Gulp* :~(

Indeed and down here when I was growing up it was known as Donkey Rhubarb
and we all ate it as children, My wife still maintains the only reason it
has become a problem as children don't eat it any more!!
--
Charlie Pridham, Gardening in Cornwall
www.roselandhouse.co.uk
Holders of national collections of Clematis viticella cultivars and
Lapageria rosea