How to kill common garden plant that is just as ‘difficult to get rid of’ as Japanese knotweed
A GARDENING expert has revealed how to kill a common garden plant that is just as tricky to get rid of as Japanese knotweed.
Many gardeners know about the problems knotweed can cause but a pretty plant can also be a major headache and damage your property.
Buddleia, or Butterfly Bush, is a popular choice thanks to its attractive purple flowers and lovely scent with its flower heads full of nectar.
But many people picking the plant are not aware that it is highly invasive and can cause “severe damage” to buildings.
Expert Jennifer Holmes, from Environment Controls, said that buddleia is “difficult to control or get rid of” and noted its parallels with Japanese knotweed.
Under section 14 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, it is an offence to allow Japanese knotweed to escape or causing it to grow in the wild.
It can grow and spread rapidly and reach a height of seven feet.
While Buddleia is an attractive plant it can also be a nuisance, as its airborne seeds can land and grow in the cracks and crevices of a building.
It can reach a height of ten feet.
Despite these problems though, it is not listed among the wild invasive, non-native plants listed on Schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act, so it is legal to grow and plant in the wild.
Jennifer said: “Both Buddleia and knotweed can cause significant damage to building structures, however, Buddleia is less likely to damage underground infrastructure due to its shallow root system.
“Both are highly invasive and difficult to eradicate, but Buddleia (unlike Knotweed) can grow in hard-to-access areas such as roofs, guttering, window sills, and walls – basically anywhere that seeds land, it can grow.”
Japanese knotweed though “requires its roots to be on the ground in order to grow plants.”
The legal expert described both plants as “problematic species” and are “equally difficult to control or get rid of.”
Anyone having an issue with an invasive species is advised to contact experts who can use effective methods to get rid of the plants completely.
If you want to tackle the problem yourself, the most effective way is to kill off the roots, according to the Hydrangea Guide.
It says: “Ideally, cut back the plant close to the ground, drill the centre, pour weed killer/stump killer and cover the plant to prevent it from accessing sunlight. This can be done at any time of year.”