Found a potential affordable & passive no-chemical solution to the Japanese Knotweed problem: covering the affected area with 0.5-1" galvanised steel mesh (fixed to the ground). Plant grows up through it then slowly strangles, not triggering more adventitious roots. Exhausts itself over time.
Not practical to install in every location as nature isn't all a nice flat lawn surface, but a lot of it is.
https://vtinvasives.org/news-events/news/a-new-way-to-treat-knotweed Just covering the affected area with a galvanised steel mesh so the plant strangles itself as it grows through.
Harder to reach areas could be managed in tandem with other methods
Does the plant have a chance to reach reproduction stage? I guess you could send a description of your discovery to the national trust, even if it is inefficient it might be worth their time.
You've reminded me I signed up for the national trust at the start of the month and I haven't heard back yet. The woman put my postcode down wrong and it's possible my email could be misread but I think a letter would still have got to me.
Was I scammed by a friendly old woman in a lake district car park?
