Don’t be fooled by this tricky weed: It goes undetected in the heat
The invasive weed that outsmarts drought — don’t be tricked by its clever tactics.
Japanese knotweed, an invasive weed, remains active underground during hot summer months despite the apparent demise of other plants, warns a weed expert. Jennifer Holmes, head of marketing and business development at Japanese Knotweed Ltd, reveals that Japanese knotweed's extensive underground rhizome system stores energy and enables the plant to survive harsh conditions.
Despite many homeowners assuming that hot, dry weather will kill Japanese knotweed, it remains alive, ready to regrow once conditions improve. Helen Rolph, home insurance expert at Quotezone, emphasizes the seriousness of Japanese knotweed as it can cause significant damage to homes and gardens. The plant's resilience to heatwaves and sub-zero temperatures makes it more prevalent as other plants die back completely.
Although the visible stems and leaves may show signs of stress during drought, they are not dead. Japanese knotweed can spread rapidly, with even small fragments of the plant's rhizome system developing into new growth. Homeowners are advised against attempting to remove suspected Japanese knotweed themselves, as disturbing the plant can spread fragments and complicate the issue.
Instead, they should use a free plant identifier tool to accurately identify the weed before taking any action.
Written by urgent.news from Tom's Guide's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
