Japanese knotweed

(Question)

Which chemical I can use, to kill the Japanese knotweed. And where to buy. I’m in Canada Ontario

(Answer)

Thank you for contacting the toronto Master Gardeners.

We receive countless questions on how to erradicate this invasive plant from ones property. There is a lot of information on our website simply search for Japanese Knotweed   our site under Find It Here located to the right of the page.

The following is from a few of your archived posts:

Japanese Knotweed, Polygonum cuspidatum, or Fallopia japonica is an aggressive semi woody perennial introduced to Canada in the 1800’s as an ornamental plant.

Japanese Knotweed spreads via huge underground roots (rhizomes), that can grow 2 metres deep and 15 metres horizontally away from the above ground clump of stems. These factors have to be taken into consideration when attempting to control it. In Ontario, the OIPC (Ontario Invasive Plant Council) recommend digging up plants as soon as they sprout in the spring, being careful to dig up the entire root (rhizome). Young plants can be controlled by removal, but established clumps require an ongoing effort. Start by cutting the plant down to ground level in the spring and covering the stumps in a thick, pliable, light blocking tarp. This must remain in place until the knotweed is controlled. Since this can take several years, it is not a very attractive option for the home garden.  To improve the aesthetic of your garden, you may choose to cover the tarp with mulch. If you have a slight slope you can add a layer of soil, about 6 inches thick, and plant with ground covers suited to your light conditions, especially species that spread by runners (stolons) or have shallow root systems. If your tarp is on a medium slope, you may need to retain the soil with heavy stones/pavers/logs, being careful not to tear through the fabric. If your site has a steep slope, don’t add anything on top of your tarp. If you wish to grow larger plants, you can build/purchase a planter(s) and place on top of the tarp.  Fill planters with soil and plant as usual. For more details see: https://www.ontarioinvasiveplants.ca/files/OIPC_BMP_Presentation_Japanese_KnotweedFinal2014.pdf

Another method to deter the weed, known as soil solarization, is cutting shoots to the ground in spring, covering in thick black plastic and allowing the heat accumulation under the plastic, over the hot summer months, to kill off a reasonable percentage of the rhizomes. This works best in areas that get direct sunlight and the plastic needs to remain in place for 6 to 8 weeks without anything on top of it. You may need to remove the plastic, check for shoots and cut the stalks to the ground, then replace the plastic, 2-3 times over the summer for best results. This technique may need to be repeated for several summers until the weed is under control. 
Since your neighbour has Japanese Knotweed, a root barrier is also recommended to control the spread of the deep knotweed rhizomes. This would require digging a deep trench, to 2 metres, along the fence line and the installation of a vertical root barrier. You can hire a professional to do this if it is beyond your scope.

Once you have Japanese Knotweed under control the OIPC recommends planting out the area, or covering it in a thick layer of mulch, to reduce the chance of other invasive species moving in. Good luck with controlling this beast!”

“Japanese Knotweed spreads via huge underground roots (rhizomes), which can grow 2 metres deep and 15 metres horizontally away from the above ground clump of stems. These factors have to be taken into consideration when attempting to control it. If you wish to tackle this problem yourself, Ontario Invasive Plant Council recommends digging out the plant. “Digging young plants (including rhizomes) can eradicate new or early infestations. Japanese Knotweed has a large and dense root system and will quickly re-sprout when pulled or dug if the roots are not completely removed. Using a restoration plan with this method will prevent additional invasive species from becoming established in areas disturbed by digging/ pulling efforts.”

Do Not Compost. All plant materials should be placed in thick black plastic bags. Seal the bags tightly and leave them in direct sunlight for about a week before disposing of them to the landfill.

Once you have Japanese Knotweed under control the OIPC recommends planting out the area, or covering it in a thick layer of mulch, to reduce the chance of other invasive species moving in. Good luck with controlling this invasive plant!”

For more details see:

https://www.torontomastergardeners.ca/askagardener/japanese-knotweed-control/”