What to do if you find invasive Japanese knotweed
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — An illegal and invasive plant could have a disastrous effect on your property. The Ottawa Conservation District is warning residents about what they should do if they find Japanese knotweed in their yard.
The plant is native to Asia and it dies and grows back every year. In some cases, it can grow up to around 8 to 10 feet. Japanese knotweed harms our ecosystems crowding out native plants and hurting the pollinators and wildlife that need those plants to survive.
National Invasive Species Information Center said the invasive plant came into the U.S. during the late 1800s as an ornamental plant. You can identify the plant from a reddish stem that looks a bit like bamboo.
Japanese knotweed's root system is also strong enough to damage the foundations of homes and septic tanks. The species can grow in many places. Murielle Garbarino, a coordinator with the Ottawa Conservation District, said it typically takes landowners seven to ten years of treatments to get rid of the invasive plant. She recommends people who find it call a professional since trying to remove it yourself can cause it to spread.
"It's important not to cut it or try to dig it up. It can spread and create new plants from small fragments of leaves and stems or root fragments so don't cut it down or try and dig it up," Garbarino said.
The Ottawa Conservation District is suited to help landowners get rid of Japanese knotweed. They said if you think a plant is Japanese knotweed and want to get it treated, to reach out to them .
