Nature Hannah

I'm going to be giving a talk about how world governments are handling Japanese Knotweed and passing on recommendations for prevention here in Michigan. I'm wondering if any of you can tell me about any interactions you've had with local municipalities. Are they curious? Resistant? Concerned? Many of the people I talk to don't realize it can and will damage City Infrastructure, so they are taken aback. I'm also going to be working on a talk about how Japanese knotweed can be the perfect vehicle for Conservation Districts and CISMAS to make contact with municipalities, showing them you're there for them, and teaching people the general basics of ALL Invasive Species. ("Right plant, right place... etc) Any experiences, advice, and insight is welcome!

And here's a pic of small pieces sprouting. Someone in an alley chopped it all up and then put soil over it, hoping it would die. Ha! It didn't die.

Where were your pictures taken? here's an odd trait I've been finding that I'm curious about. Long, almost diamond shaped leaves turn up on almost all the bigger stands I find.

OMG THANK YOU! here's some growing through parking lots and sidewalks in Kalamazoo!

The link didn't take me anywhere, but I am interested. The latest I've heard is that glyphosate actually INCREASES/stimulates growth, and so does cutting or digging. This plant also can "play dead" when cut/poisoned, focusing it's growth underground to try to "run away" from the attack. I have also heard that eradication is not possible, so the focus is on control. My awareness focus is on PREVENTION since... as they say... "A stitch in time saves nine". Municipalities are unknowingly spreading it in fill dirt and soil moving for construction. Illegal dumping is spreading it to wild spaces. It's a real problem and we have to act NOW to prevent what's happening in the UK.