When is the Best Time to Treat Japanese Knotweed?

While there's never a good time to find Japanese knotweed on your property, there is an optimal time to treat it if you want to make sure it stays out of your garden all year round.

When planning Japanese knotweed removal, timing is key if you want your efforts to have the maximum effect. Treating weeds like Japanese knotweed at the wrong time of year will make the removal process harder and may even risk spreading the infestation further around your garden.

So, when is the best time to treat Japanese knotweed?

Although some people might argue that the best time to treat Japanese knotweed is in the spring / summer when it's growing most rapidly, we've found that the most effective time to treat Japanese knotweed with herbicides is after June, heading towards autumn. Here's why!

As summer turns to autumn, Japanese knotweed stops putting energy into growth and instead uses its energy to move sugars and nutrients down towards its underground rhizome structure. This is an important part of the plant's life cycle that helps it to survive the harsh winter months.

We take advantage of this shift in energy by applying specialist herbicides to the Japanese knotweed. The natural flow of nutrients enables the herbicide to penetrate deep underground and get at the rhizome (root).

Can I treat Japanese knotweed in spring / summer?

If you notice a developing Japanese knotweed problem, we'd always recommend getting a survey right away so that you can determine the right time and type of treatment for your specific case. Generally, we don't treat Japanese knotweed as much during the spring / early summer months because the herbicides can be less effective.

During this time, the Japanese knotweed is putting all of its available energy into pushing nutrients up to the leaves and flowers, so herbicide applications can kill off the top section of the weeds without really addressing the rhizomes underground.

What are my Japanese knotweed treatment options?

When it comes to treating Japanese knotweed, there are quite a few different options to choose from. Here at Taylor Total Weed Control, we offer a free no-obligation survey and a range of treatment plans to help you get your Japanese knotweed problem under control quickly.

Our Japanese Knotweed Treatment Plans >

We hope that this shed some light on the best time to treat Japanese knotweed. If you have any questions at all, don't hesitate to get in touch with our team.