Knotweed (unknown species) (Fallopia sp.) on Aug 4, 2008
Originally reported as Japanese Knotweed (Fallopia japonica)
Submitter has sample
Description of specimen
a huge stand of japanese knotweed - 50'x20' 8-10 feet tall. (I do not know the difference between the 3 knotweeds)
Commentary
Expert Reviewer
Tania Siemens
WISE Program Coordinator (Watershed and Invasive Species Education)
Oregon Sea Grant Extension
Oregon State University
tania.siemens@oregonstate.edu
541-914-0701
Reporter
Aug. 4, 2008, 2:16 p.m.
Thanks for reporting knotweed! I apologize for the very long delay in replying to your report. We have had a few bugs to work out since we launched the hotline and are working through them.
You certainly present a difficult situation and I am not sure whether or not there is a good solution. The problem is that all the people or agencies that work on invasive species issues have very limited resources for controlling weeds. They have to prioritize those species that are still not abundant and have some promise for control at a large scale. Unfortunately knotweed is already really abundant in your area, so any knotweed projects need to be selected very strategically. However, I will forward this report to the East Multnomah SWCD to see if they have any idea or solutions regarding controlling your absent neighbors patch. In the meantime, you may want to try and get permission from the landowner to get started controlling the stand your self. (Or, at least the part of it that is threatening your garden.) The links above have lots of good info on control strategies, and many of them are not that hard, they just require long term perseverance.
Thanks again for your report,
Tania
Tania Siemens
OSU Sea Grant/The Nature Conservancy
tania.siemens@oregonstate.edu
Tania Siemens
Aug. 22, 2008, 5:21 a.m.
Lucas at East Multnomah contacted me and here is his response.
"As far as I know there are no laws in Western Oregon that require landowners to control weeds on their own property and I don't know how the nuisance plant regulations in the City of Portland work. Having the landowner begin control of the knotweed or getting permission to do it yourself would be the best options. Until then, unfortunately all you can do is treat what is growing onto your property. Also unfortunately for your organic garden, the best (and maybe only) option for eradicating knotweed is with the use of herbicides."
Sorry this is not more helpful. Thanks again for using the hotline.
Tania
Tania Siemens
Aug. 22, 2008, 7:44 a.m.