Treating Japanese knotweed with herbicide stem injection

Stem injection is a relatively new technique whereby concentrated herbicide is injected into the lower part of each stem of knotweed using a stem injector. There is some concern within the knotweed industry that the concentrated herbicide induces rhizome dormancy. This means that at the surface it appears that the knotweed is dead, whereas in reality the rhizome is far from dead, simply waiting for the right conditions before it starts to grow again.

We are carrying out research into herbicide induced dormancy, and would be interested to hear from anyone who has experience they wish to share with us. Until we can be sure that the stem injection method is actually killing the rhizome we consider this as a Japanese knotweed control method, as opposed to an eradication method.

We would use this method for small amounts of knotweed growing in amongst other valued plants as the application is better directed at the target plant than is the case with foliar spray. There is therefore likely to be far less collateral damage to non-target plant species.

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Key Benefits

• Cost effective

• Target specific