Posts Tagged ‘Invasive Weeds’

Japanese Knotweed Control

Tuesday, August 16th, 2011

It is approaching peak time for Japanese Knotweed control. When the plant is in flower it is in the process of storing energy in the rhizome root system for overwintering. If sprayed at this time, the chemical is translocated straight to the root and has a much greater impact on the plant than when it is sprayed earlier in the year when all its energy is aimed at developing shoots and leaves.
ART trained 14 volunteers over the last 2 years and now is the time for them to get busy if they can. Any time spent spraying now will reduce your knotweed problems for at least the next 2 – 3 years. Better still, if you follow this spraying up for the next 2 – 3 years you may even eliminate it completely. The stand in the photo would have filled the frame 2 years ago. This area was sprayed once only. Although reduced by over 95%, it still needs follow up spraying on annual basis until it is eradicated completely.

Japanese Knotweed 2 years after control. Needs sprayed annually!

We have applied for SEARS licences for Contractors and some of our volunteers but any others wishing to get involved, please call the office now as we will need your certificate details to include them on the licenses. Without SEARS approval, you can’t spray.
Japanese Knotweed only reproduces from cuttings in the UK so despite the flowers that develop, no seed is produced. Strimming the plant produces masses of tiny fragments (cuttings) that can develop into new plants. This is the reason that it’s best not to interfere with the plant at all rather than hack it down as this only increases the scale of the problem. Anglers and riparian owners are largely responsible for the spread of this plant on our rivers due to misunderstanding the reproductive process.
Owners and clubs with problem stands are encouraged to get in touch with the Trust for advice or assistance.

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Airport Attack

Tuesday, July 12th, 2011

After a fair bit of negotiation with Glasgow Prestwick Airport, ART finally gained access to spray the few giant hogweed plants that had developed within the perimiter fence. The Ladykirk Burn and the Sandyford Burn meet on the east side of the airfield before being culverted under the runway. A small stand of GHW was noticed flowering and it became an urgent task to bring this under control as the rest of the catchment was sprayed as part of the INTERREG IV project.
10 minutes work was all that was involved but we also had a tour of the airfield to ensure there wasn’t more that had been overlooked.
The Red Arrows flight team were preparing to take off as we left the runway area.

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Giant Hogweed in Flower

Monday, June 27th, 2011

A large stand of Giant Hogweed exists in a small patch of woodland opposite Dobbies Garden Centre at Ayr. Despite being some distance from the river we didn’t feel that we could allow this to develop further untreated as it is spreading from here in all directions. Last week we noticed plants on the A77 about 1/4 mile away and the gardens of cottages just across the road have recently become infested.
We decided (with permission) to spray this area although it is late in the season and seed is starting to set. At least this spraying should make it easier to tackle the woodland next spring before the plant gets too big. As can be seen in the photos below, there are increased health and safety issues when dealing with mature plants and this is not really an acceptable option for us except in extreme circumstances and with great care.


The photos illustrate the potential of the plant to reach incredible heights and also the huge seed potential. We couldn’t reach the tallest plants safely but the ones in the photo were nearly 4m high! Most plants have been sprayed and are starting to wilt. We will post a follow up once things have been completed.

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Invasive Weeds on the Retreat

Friday, May 20th, 2011

Despite difficult spraying conditions, our contractors have been working hard to complete the Giant Hogweed control across Ayrshire.
The Annick and Irvine are now virtually complete as are the Coastal Burns. The lower River Ayr below Stair Bridge is also finished but upstream has yet to be completed.
All these burns and rivers will be revisited by the contractors and ART staff to ensure that all flowering plants have been treated. It is an impossible task to get them all first time around due to the scale of the problem but early indications suggest that the contractors have been highly effective. Once the second visit is complete there should be no flowering plants remaining in any of the target areas.
As a back up strategy, ART trained (and will continue to do so) 9 volunteers this year to the necessary standard and they will remain vigilant for rogue plants if they arise.
Anyone seeing flowering plants that appear to have been missed, please don’t delay in getting in touch with the Trust as will will co-ordinate a resonse asap. Juvenile plants are not an urgent issue as these will be treated next year.

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