I am absolutely obsessed with irradicating this plant! We’re in SW PA. We bought a house that was infested with this stuff. We didn't realize what it was and it spread aggressively up to our house. I've done quite a bit of research on this extremely invasive weed. It spreads from underground roots called rhizomes (A horizontal, usually underground stem that often sends out roots and shoots from its nodes) that can grow 6-9 feet from the stalk. If you pull it from the ground you're only taking out a small portion of the plant and the root will continue to regrow right where you pulled it from. If you mow or weed whack the stalks you are also spreading the weed because the pieces of chopped up plant can also regrow. Getting rid of the Japanese knotweed seems nearly impossible, but with initial control measures and then routine maintenance you can keep it at bay. In June snip it off at the base, carefully put the stalks into a contractor bag and tie securely, then place it in the sun for a few days. This will kill the rhizomes and then you can trash it. Some people burn the stalks in the burn barrel. At the end of summer you’ll spray with industrial weed killer (not glycosphate). Allow to dry and reapply a second time. Many people advise you wait until after September 15th so the bees can use the flowers. My neighbor tried excavating and placing a heavy tarp over the area but it didn't work. Amazingly the new shoots came up thick around the entire area he covered with tarp. You have to get ALL of it out of the ground without spreading any of the pieces about. GOOD LUCK!

It's edible in the spring when the shoots first come up, so that is one way to control small patches. It can be dug out and if it's covered and weighed down so that no light gets to the soil, you can eventually weaken the root systems and kill the colony. You have to spot weed to take out new growth -- and it will pop several feet away from original colonies, too -- but eventually the big systems weaken. Without chemicals, it take years so it's not for the faint of heart. In one park I work in, we've been controlling it for four years and are finally starting to see progress. We were able to plant trees & shrubs into one area that had a very small colony growing in it. The Ontario Invasive Plant Council and the Invasive Species Centre, both in Canada, have excellent best practices guides.

I am obsessed as well. This is the third year of war for me

Beautiful plant. Medicinal. Food. Fantastic for pollinators. Makes a buckwheat type honey.

Knotweed has also become my obsession this Summer. My property in Midcoast Maine has several areas of knotweed monoculture. However, I am not yet to the stage of acceptance. Rather, I am testing the eradication strategy of Green Shoots (several informative videos are on this platform) on a small patch. Yes, it involves Fall application of a herbicide, but it will be precisely targeted and attention will be paid to PPE. If the test fails, my pragmatic side will lead to acceptance and obsessive energy will be redirected to eliminating the invasive Himalayan Balsam!

o i forgot, a knotweed hug

Omg I love my knotweed I dig up the root and make tinctures and oils..good for all remedies especially lyme..definitely make friends with it..for some reason mine is under control but again I don't mimd it because I make all kinds of herbals with it..and ur right the root I dug up was enormous lol but I did chop it up and tincture it

let it grow, its a very beautiful plant, and it doesnt sting! and very useful, and buy a sheep that can eat unrestricted from it, voila, no more work to be done in the garden! its there to give u free time, not to stress

Japanese knotweed has many uses, would you sell seeds or a rhizome?

Have you thought about breaking out your guitar, tapping into your passion for music, and writing a song? I think there is an Ode to Japanese Knotweed in your future 😊😉