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Memetalman
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Plant taking over one of my beds.

Howdy guys! So... I'm not sure what this is.

It takes over every year so I pull it out and turn the soil. It has a hollow stem much like a bamboo. They come out of the ground easily with very little of their root system. My neighbor says it starts about 2 feet deep. :roll: Even if I just have to deal with it, I still am curious as to what it is. Thanks!
Last edited by Memetalman on Sun May 20, 2012 6:03 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Memetalman
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Sorry.

[img]https://img829.imageshack.us/img829/7826/hni0087t.jpg[/img]
[img]https://img442.imageshack.us/img442/7867/hni0086b.jpg[/img]
[img]https://img163.imageshack.us/img163/2999/hni0084zt.jpg[/img]
[img]https://img13.imageshack.us/img13/7181/hni0085f.jpg[/img]
[img]https://img824.imageshack.us/img824/552/hni0083ys.jpg[/img]
[img]https://img521.imageshack.us/img521/2112/hni0082j.jpg[/img]

There!

kdodds
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Guessing a type of knotweed, though the ones around here have more heart shaped than spade shaped leaves.

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Memetalman
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It seems to be Japanese Knotweed. :? It's gonna be fun to get it outta there.
Thanks for your knowledge Kdodds.

kdodds
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NP. We just lop/prune to below the soil line whenever we see them. Eventually, the roots will die, but it may take a few years.

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!potatoes!
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by the way, if you catch them early, before the leaves fully open, they make a nice (slightly sour) asparagus-type vegetable.

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applestar
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Think of them as excellent GREEN ingredient for your compost pile. :wink:

Weeds like this have been enjoying freeloading in your garden bed. Time for them to pay up. :twisted: I watch the weeds growing in unused areas waiting until just as they start to bud (but before their flowers mature into seeds) -- Yeehehehehe! "Are you ready yet, my pretty?" to put them in my oven -- er, Compost pile. 8)

...I'm like the witch who lives in the Gingerbread House.... :twisted::>

Cut weeds also do excellent job as mulch. :D

JONA878
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If it is Japanese Knotweed then I would not try to compost it.
That would be a sure way to get it to spread even more.
Over here in the Uk it is classed as Controlled Waste and has to be disposed of in an official manner.
We can weedkill it ok....but if we dig it up then it has to be disposed of at either Liscenced land fill sites or allowed to desicate and then burnt.

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rainbowgardener
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For things that aggressively spread from roots/ runners, I sometimes cut the stalks/ leaves off from the roots. Compost the greenery and dispose of the roots more securely.

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applestar
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For aggressive weeds, my two sure to kill'em methods are to either leave piles in te sun to wilt and dry first, or to drown them in a bucket of water until spoiled and fermented before adding o the compost pile.

I use the dry methd for English ivy and drowning method for weeds gone to seed.

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Memetalman
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Yeah, I made the mistake of composting some... :oops: Never again. Anything I pull goes directly into a lawn bag and out to the curb. I don't know if the the "pouring herbicide down the shoots" method I read about is such a good idea...? I just have a sentimental knock out rose and recuperating Chamaecyparis in the bed.
Thanks for the tips I'll give them a go.



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