How to kill mysterious plant

sammyroser

Hello All,

A few years ago a plant appeared by the fence, no idea what the plant is but it grows quite tall and very leafy, leafs all die off in the winter. Originally would just cut it down but it has been spreading, the roots and base of the plant are very thick and woody. Now it is starting to grow up through the cracks of the patio, patio is starting to become uneven and its not far from the house! Have tried adding store bought posion which is meant to kill the plant but putting it on the stump which killed off that part of the plant but did not spread with the plant. I need something to kill this plant off without having to dig up patio, I have no plans to have any other plants in the area so it doesn't matter if it effects the soil.

Also please keep in mind I have cats so it can't be anything that can harm the cats, I would like it to be as natural as possible.

Many Thanks

Mojisola

Not natural but any glyphosate weedkiller sprayed on the leaves should do the trick. If the plant is really tough you may need a couple of applications.

Glyphosate is translocated through the plant and should kill off the roots and shoots.

Cabbagewhite

It sounds like it may be Japanese Knotweed, from its description. If it is, you have a difficult task ahead, but you need to deal with it urgently as it will get into your foundations - I kid not. Google to see if the pictures match up with what you have, if it does, the Environment Agency has some advice at http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/wildlife/130079.aspx

Cabbagewhite

Otherwise post some photos to see if we can identify it.

elsien

Sorry, sounds very much like japanese knotweed to me as well.
You need to kill it off without disturbing it if possible, as any fragments of root or stem will spread and regrow. Incinerate any dead bits and be really careful that you collect up and burn all the bits you cut off.
It is possible to get shut (there's a thread on here if you do a search, but it's a beggar and can take a few years to eradicate properly. I'm having an ongoing battle with the stuff at the moment.

blossomhill_2

sammyroser wrote: »

A few years ago a plant appeared by the fence

Who or what is on the other side of the fence? You need to get the landowner to work with you on this and start eradicating it from their side too if it is the dreaded JK

sammyroser

Well this plant seems like it could be japanese knotweed, I will take a picture and try to upload it later but I have been trying to dig up as much of it as possible which now sounds like it might have been the wrong thing to do.

It appeared on our fence after our neighbours did some work, notibly put down black plastic and covered in stones along the whole side of their fence which sounds like it might be the cause of it coming over to ourside.

Unfortunalty they moved and I do not get on with the new neighbours at all.

If anyone has any other tips on how to get rid of this! I'm about to head off to the compost heap to try and get all the bits I threw in there the other day!

Mojisola

Cabbagewhite wrote: »

It sounds like it may be Japanese Knotweed, from its description. If it is, you have a difficult task ahead, but you need to deal with it urgently as it will get into your foundations - I kid not. Google to see if the pictures match up with what you have, if it does, the Environment Agency has some advice at http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/wildlife/130079.aspx

You really do have a job on your hands if it is Japanese Knotweed. My sympathies.

elsien

If the other landowner won't co-operate, there's little you can do to make them, unfortunately. Mine is a landlord who owns hundreds of houses - I got the council to write to him, he ignored them and they said they have no power of enforcement. He's got lots more money than me, so legal action isn't going to work as he can afford it and I can't.
Apparently it's better to treat later in the year as then the chemical is more likely to get to the rhizomes, but I find it too scary to leave it that long. I get paranoid envisaging the roots going berserk while I wait! You need strong chemicals, time and patience.
This a roundup ad, but whatever you use, the principles will be the same.
http://www.monsanto-ag.co.uk/content.output/170/170/Roundup/Difficult%20Weeds/Japanese%20Knotweed.mspx

sammyroser

Sorry about the picture quality, I took these on my phone.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v192/sammy_graves/542135_10151105502678012_1013010466_n.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v192/sammy_graves/380214_10151105501163012_513658011_13143337_1004080814_n.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v192/sammy_graves/564882_10151105501973012_513658011_13143341_410494952_n.jpg

I've been cutting it back a lot trying to use up all it's energy hoping that would kill it.

My mum also reminded me that it has white flowers in late summer/early autumn.

Deep Root ultra tree stump and weed killer is what I used to try and kill it before, when we originally cut it back it had one main stump so we used a sachet pure which killed that bit but seemed to send the roots crazy! I used the last sachet and mixed it up with water as a spray, I've used it once but seen no effect.

elsien

That doesn't actually look like knotweed to me - not sure what it is though.