[NatureNS] a positive aside on Japanese Knotweed

From: "Dave/Sharon" <dash.bi@ns.sympatico.ca>
To: <naturens@chebucto.ns.ca>
References: <75501C8E-CC60-4F28-9C1F-682522A3C742@eastlink.ca> <82C766248D794CB487F4553407592984@oldcoot3> <48A76716.50203@glinx.com>
Date: Sun, 17 Aug 2008 07:17:47 -0300
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This escaped ornamental is even worse than goutweed (Aegopodium podagraria). 
Classed as a noxious weed in many provinces, Japanese knotweed (Polygonum 
cuspidatum) has shoots that can penetrate asphalt. Chop it back to the 
ground, then cover the area with a layer of heavy black plastic held down 
with bricks. Leave for several weeks in the sun to fry the remnants beneath. 
Then cover the whole lot with dampened newspaper and another layer of black 
plastic. This is a tough plant and it will take a while to get rid of it 
cheaply. The alternative is to dig it out with a backhoe. I'd go with the 
plastic
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David & Alison Webster" <dwebster@glinx.com>
To: <naturens@chebucto.ns.ca>
Sent: Saturday, August 16, 2008 8:47 PM
Subject: Re: [NatureNS] a positive aside on Japanese Knotweed


> Hi Margaret & All,                Aug 16, 2008
>    To contain a perennial herbaceous plant such as JN one must go for the 
> juglar so to speak.
>
>    Such plants are dependent on reserves, that are stored in rhizomes or 
> other underground storage structures, to get started in the spring. 
> Sending shoots up in the spring decreases these reserves to some extent so 
> the trick is to mow before any resources can be translocated back from the 
> new shoot to the rhizome and by mowing early it may be possible to deplete 
> the storage reserves of several shoot production cycles in one growing 
> season.
>
>    Getting something else established to compete with it will help also. 
> Avoid digging. That just perks it up.
> Yt, DW, Kentville
>
> Margaret E.Millard wrote:
>
>> I have a patch here that was planted years ago by a previous resident and 
>> it runs amuck. We slash it and dig it and mow it and it just keeps 
>> coming. I find the birds love it.
>> http://margmillard.ca
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "James W. Wolford" 
>> <jimwolford@eastlink.ca>
>> To: <NatureNS@chebucto.ns.ca>
>> Cc: "Zoe Lucas" <zoelucas@greenhorsesociety.com>
>> Sent: Saturday, August 16, 2008 6:23 PM
>> Subject: [NatureNS] a positive aside on Japanese Knotweed
>>
>>
>>> Without taking sides re this non-native and invasive plant being in 
>>> Cape Breton Highlands Nat. Park and what if anything to do about it, 
>>> I'd like to inject a natural history note on J.K. that I heard from  Zoe 
>>> Lucas, and I hope I've got it correct.  On Sable Island there is  a 
>>> small "forest" of J.K., and at a certain time of the year these  dense 
>>> plants provide protective cover for small migrant birds from  the 
>>> ravages of sharp-shinned hawks.
>>>
>>> Cheers from Jim in Wolfville.
>>>
>>
>>
>
> 

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