Why Can't You Cut Japanese Knotweed?

Over the past few weeks, we've been looking at lots of different ways to get rid of Japanese knotweed. So far, we've debunked the myth that covering knotweed is an effective way to remove it and we've even explored the effects of adding lime to your soil! Sadly, neither of these methods has been proven to be effective, Japanese knotweed is just too good at surviving! 

When it comes to effective methods of Japanese knotweed removal, excavation, specialist herbicide treatments and burning have all been quite effective. These aggressive methods of treatment are capable of stopping the knotweed in its tracks! So surely cutting it down has to be effective too, right? Today we're answering the question - why can't you cut Japanese knotweed?

Cutting living Japanese knotweed

You might think that taking a lawnmower or strimmer to your Japanese knotweed infestation is the best way to kill it, but sadly, cutting Japanese knotweed tends to cause more trouble than it's worth. For those of you who don't know, Japanese knotweed can grow from a tiny fragment of root or rhizome in the soil, that's part of the reason why it's so prevalent across the whole country.

Worse still, fragments as small as 3cm can lay dormant in the soil for years after the main body of the plant has died away. That's why it's so important you get it removed professionally! Cutting live Japanese knotweed puts you at risk of spreading the infestation around your garden and creating a bigger problem, so put the strimmers down and continue reading to find out how to deal with Japanese knotweed properly.

Cutting back dead Japanese knotweed

Cutting down Japanese knotweed AFTER it's been treated by a suitable herbicide is a good idea. Once the plant has died, cutting it down actually makes it easier for you to access the base of the plant. This is vital if you want to be able to remove the Japanese knotweed that's visible above ground as well as the root system under the ground. 

Remember, you should never dispose of Japanese knotweed with the rest of your garden waste, it needs to be sent to a specialist landfill site where it won't pose a risk of further infestations. 

Japanese knotweed treatment plans

So, now you understand why cutting Japanese knotweed isn't the best idea if you want to get rid of it for good, we'll quickly run through some of our professional treatment options. Here at Taylor Total Weed Control, we offer Herbicide Application Programs and Excavation and Removal Programs. You can learn more about these on our Japanese knotweed treatment plans page:

Japanese Knotweed Treatment Plans >

 If you have any questions, or if you'd like to request a free survey, don't hesitate to give us a call on 029 2039 7554. Our Japanese knotweed experts are happy to assist you.