Japanese knotweed in graveyard

myonlysunshine

Hi there I'm hoping this is in the right place, I apologiseif not please feel free to move...

We are having real problems with the vicar of the local church where my mum was buried two years ago.

At the front of the church grounds there are two lovely lawns to each side which are kept tidy and neat but just a few feet back out of site of the front there is a large over grown area of Japanese knotweed, or so we have been told it is that, this covers a big part of the graveyard.

It is over 4 feet high and the vicar assured us it would be sorted in April this year, we complained a few time about the state of it as it was all around the gravestones and he kept saying he would sort it out but never did, this is very upsetting to see especially as the rest of the church is in good order...

I went to my mums grave today, the weeds are even higher, the vicar was there, shrugged his shoulders and said he had no plans to remove it as there were no funds in place ( the chruch has just used £150,000 lottery funds to make 'improvements' that didn't include the churchyard,, as he said the funds were for the 'church only !!) I'm afraid to say l lost my temper with him.....

We cannot afford to get contractors in to sort this my dad is sooo upset, is this something we can treat ourselves? We just don't know what to do, the churchyard looks dreadful and disrespect to all loved ones there, we can't even see my mums grave properly...what can we do???? Really sorry for the rant

RAS

Hi

if it is JK, then the time to deal with it is in August.

You need glysophate (get it from an agricultural supplier as it is cheaper) a syringe or two (a few pence from the chemists) and a pair of loppers. Plus a pot you will never use again, and rubber gloves.

myonlysunshine

Thanks Ras :

RAS

Details in my post on this old thread https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3389896

annie123

OP I followed Ras's instructions as the chemical I would normally use has been band by the EU. This is year 2 in my sons neighbours garden and already I can see the growth is weaker and distorted, and a lot less than last year too.
Neighbour didn't care about it being there, but when it got to within 3' of his garden, my DS cared a lot and neighbours are fine with it being treated at no cost to them.

Thanks Ras

RAS

annie

If possible (you need 48 hours dry weather after application), your son can start to spot spray or paint the weakened and distorted growth with standard strength glysphate. Wait until the leaves are green though. Let any strong grow alone until cutting it back but he can tackle the weakened and very short stuff several time over the summer if the weather allows.

annie123

Thanks Ras, and after a very soggy week looks like should get a few dry days from tomorrow onwards, so will get the spray out this weekend.