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Greene County Soil & Water Conservation District Stream Stewardship Program
Japanese Knotweed |
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What to do about knotweed? Prevention and Management |
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Prevention is the BEST policy! Spread the word, not the weed!
Preventing the establishment of knotweed on your property or in public areas (including parks, preserves, open space and roadsides) is the most important step for addressing knotweed invasion. To prevent the spread of knotweed there are a number of things we can do:
· Plant native competitive species. Be sure to establish vegetation on exposed soils immediately. When planting vegetation for beautification or as a privacy barrier, be sure to use only native plants, avoid using Japanese knotweed or any other exotic invasive species.
· Move soils responsibly to avoid spreading knotweed contaminated soils. Be sure to use clean fill during all construction activities, reject the use of fill that may contain knotweed plant fragments.
· Avoid transporting knotweed plant fragments when moving equipment or materials from one work-site to another.
· Dispose of knotweed material responsibly. When attempting to manage knotweed stands, do not throw any knotweed material into streams, where it can be transported to downstream locations. When possible, dry all knotweed material on-site and then burn (safely). If knotweed material must be carried off-site, be sure to contain it in order to prevent accidental transport to downstream locations.
· Urge your local officials to pass legislation prohibiting the spread or dumping of knotweed.
· Share information about knotweed with your neighbors, contractors and fill providers to help prevent the spread of knotweed. |
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Managing Japanese Knotweed
Once Japanese Knotweed has been established on a particular site, it should be treated or managed immediately. We are currently conducting an experiment to develop effective management techniques to address knotweed stands on private property. When determining the appropriate management activity to use, it will be necessary to consider the size of the knotweed stand. And remember, no matter how large your stand of knotweed, you will need to revisit the stand multiple times over multiple years to insure that the knotweed is indeed gone. If it was easy to get rid of, we might not have a problem! |
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Eradication is possible if knotweed is removed when the plant or infestation is small. Grub small stands, being sure to clear all knotweed material including roots and rhizomes. Pull all new shoots as they emerge. You may also cover the plants with plastic to prevent continued growth. |
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NYCDEP |
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small |
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EXPANSIVE |
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Knotweed Control Forum |
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Jenn Grieser |
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Medium |
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When a knotweed stand becomes larger, management options may include frequent mowing, excavation and herbicide application. Frequent mowing should be conducted every two weeks throughout the growing season, from early spring through the fall. Excavation involves excavating all knotweed material from an area including, stems, rhizomes and roots and then drying the material for proper disposal. The exposed soils should be re-vegetated with native species. Herbicide treatment may involve stem injection or foliar application by spray or a wicking method. When using herbicides care should be taken to prevent harm to native vegetation, and consultation with a certified pesticide applicator is recommended before beginning any herbicide treatment. |
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Once knotweed has established expansive stands in an area or along a stream, eradication is unlikely and could be ecologically irresponsible. At this point it is important to take measures to contain it and prevent further spread or expansion. |
