As the year goes on, it’s important to learn how to identify Japanese Knotweed in Autumn before it dies off in the winter months and re-grows next spring!
In this article, we will discuss in detail what this invasive species looks like at this time of year.
In the Autumn months, the stem of the knotweed will remain green with purple speckles. However, these stems will most likely appear in a cluster form and have similar properties to that of bamboo, as the stem will be hollow.
As well as this, when identifying the species, you may notice the plant reaches great heights of up to 3 meters. Although, towards the end of Autumn, the stems may turn to a reddish-brown colour.
During the earlier weeks of Autumn, the leaves will remain green and in a heart shape. Also, through until October, your Japanese knotweed will grow clusters of creamy white flowers.
However, later on in the season you will notice that the leaves begin to turn yellow and start to wilt.
The rhizome is the direct cause of the spread of Japanese knotweed. In fact, these rhizomes can grow up to 2m deep and 7m wide, under the ground. When split open, internally, the rhizome will appear orange. On the other hand, externally, the rhizome has a ‘knotty’ and ‘woody’ resemblance.
However, it is important to know that the rhizome of Japanese knotweed in Autumn can remain dormant for up to 20 years and the regeneration can start from a piece of the plant that is as small as 0.7g. Which is only about 2/3 as heavy as a jelly bean!!
If you believe you have Japanese knotweed on your property, then do not hesitate to get in touch today. We can get a treatment plan put into place to put your mind at ease.
We have also created guides for how Japanese Knotweed looks in the Spring, Summer and Winter.