Why We Need To Eliminate Japanese Knotweed

Also called in other terms such as elephant ears, monkeyweed, pea shooters, fleeceflower, and Himalayan fleece vine, Japanese knotweed is a nonwoody destructive plant that is a member of the species of Polygonaceae.  It is inhabitant to countries in eastern Asia such as China, Japan, and Korea.

The plant is said to have many uses.  These include being a good source of vitamins and minerals such as the vitamins A and C, phosphorous, potassium, zinc, and manganese.  It is likewise believed to be a source of reservatol, a compound that helps lower LDL or bad cholesterol and slow down the inception of Alzheimer’s disease. 

In spite of its benefits, however, why is it that efforts are made to get rid of the Japanese knotweed? 

This can be referred to the real surroundings of the plant, which is of volcanic and harsh conditions.  It was then introduced to the United States and Europe in the 19th century and it was used as decorative plants and also to stop soil erosion.  But, what was supposed to be a useful plant has been found to be actually destructive.  In fact, laws have been implemented regarding this notorious plant genus.  These consist of the Wildlife and Countryside Act (as amended) 1981, The Environmental Protection Act 1990, The Environmental Protection (Duty of Care) Regulations 1991, and the Third party litigation, where damages can be required from anyone that allows the plant to spread onto other land properties.

The World Conservation Union has chosen Japanese knotweed as one of the world’s 100 most horrible species.  And, the group has all the reasons to do so.  Once it is introduced to a particular place or property, eliminating it can be such a tough task.  It propagates through tiny parts of root and stem cuttings.  This indicates that if you get to throw away just a small portion of the roots beneath the surface of the ground that portion can still proliferate as a new plant.

Moreover, this plant has the capacity to grow through drains, walls, and even concrete walls.  Apparently, it can lead to a good deal of damage to properties.  Land valuation tends to decline when a specific field is covered by this destructive plant.  It likewise gives troubles to gardeners because it can occupy the garden and prevent native plants from breeding.

It is then no surprise why a lot of people spend money on the elimination of Japanese knotweed.  But, proper caution must be exercised when trying to eradicate the plant.  Rather than eradicating it, you may be helping its propagation.  To make sure that you do not do this, ask for pieces of advice from professionals or hire the services of a firm that narrows down on the proper eradication of the notorious plant.