I was totally wrong about those 'invasive' Japanese knotweed claims

For years I rolled my eyes at neighbors panicking about Japanese knotweed in their yards. I figured it was just another plant people hated because it grew fast (like, seriously fast). Then last spring I noticed this patch spreading under my lilac bush in Portland, and by August it was cracking the edge of my concrete walkway. I tried digging it up twice and it just came back thicker within three weeks. Finally hired a guy who showed me roots going 6 feet down under my fence line. Now I get it, that stuff is no joke. Has anyone else had knotweed show up in a place you never expected?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_wade15d ago

Oh man, I was the exact same way. I thought people were overreacting until I saw it punch through a neighbors driveway. That stuff is unreal once it gets going.

lisa_bennett15d ago

Goodness gracious, @the_wade, that is something else. I had a similar moment last spring when a crack started at the edge of my patio and by August it had split the whole slab in two. You really don't grasp how much force is there until you see it lift a driveway like a piece of cardboard. Hope your neighbor was able to get it sorted without too much hassle.