Backyard Weed Problem!... need HELP

Hello- We are looking for a recommendation for a REAL expert in yard clean-up and weed removal. We have paid several people now to come try and help us clear out our backyard in Bed Stuy. Despite the efforts, the weeds keep returning. I think we might need someone to really dig out the full root system. Im looking for a referral for someone who really knows what they are doing so I don’t keep paying for this problem…. literally and figuratively! Attached are 2 photos:
1) Right after our last clean-up
2) 4 weeks later!
Thank you for your help and advice [Yard2](//muut.com/u/brownstoner/s1/:brownstoner:14eZ:yard2.jpg.jpg) [Yard1](//muut.com/u/brownstoner/s1/:brownstoner:AXkU:yard1.jpg.jpg)

laurenpacker123

in General Discussion 8 years and 11 months ago

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cate | 8 years and 10 months ago

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We solved our weed problem by putting down cardboard covered by mulch on the entire garden over the winter, then planting in the spring and adding more mulch. The cardboard kills the soil. The entire yard was not covered by knotweed however. We had a small patch of it, which the gardeners eliminated with Round Up.

mh | 8 years and 10 months ago

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I agree philosophically with a more sustainable, elbow-grease gardening. I like it when plants and materials work together both in an esthetical and functional sense, and you out-smart nature itself.
Japanese knotweed though! It’s the worst. It combines the worst attributes of ivy (readily self-propagates from small bits of itself), mint (aggressively takes over and kills every other plant) and bamboo (invades neighbors and turn them into enemies.)
Because it propagates from seeds and roots, goes 4-ft deep, and can grow back from any piece of plant material, stalk, root or leaf, that is left behind, it is impossible to remove without herbicide. I know Round Up has a bad reputation, because it is over-used by industrial farms and creates food deserts for wild pollinators, but there is a reason it is used so much: it is effective, non-toxic to animals and bio-degrades quickly. For some very invasive plants like Japanese knotweed, it is the only way to get rid of it.
For best results, now that you have pulled everything, 1- water your yard everyday for the next week, to encourage re-growth, and 2- when you have 3/4 leaves on the stalks, spray each leaf on both sides with Round Up. Everything should die in 48 hours. If not, re-spray what is still alive. A week or two later, you can pull all the dead plant material, and start watering again, and repeat steps 1 and 2. When temperatures fall below 50 degrees, it will not grow back, but it will be too early to claim victory. Wait until May, and check for pink new growth, and you can start again until it is all gone.

laurenpacker123 | 8 years and 10 months ago

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Thank you mh. We just dug it all up this week, but I really do NOT want to put pesticide in my yard. I feel really strongly about the dangers to health and environment. I am going to try and lay down tarps now and see how that goes. I realize i have a battle ahead. [Screen Shot 2016-09-15 at 11](//muut.com/u/brownstoner/s1/:brownstoner:IwQ3:screenshot20160915at11.39.58am.png.jpg) [Screen Shot 2016-09-15 at 11](//muut.com/u/brownstoner/s1/:brownstoner:KQEI:screenshot20160915at11.39.49am.png.jpg)

mh | 8 years and 11 months ago

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You might want to research knotweed in the forum. Bkbenita had posted a very similar question. In short: you can’t dig it out, or remove what’s visible and call it a day. It’s a very aggressive, fast-spreading plant, and it takes 18 months to fully remove, using glyphosate consistently for the duration. In addition, if your neighbors don’t eradicate on their side as well, you will have to remain vigilant to maintain your yard.
Good luck!

laurenpacker123 | 8 years and 11 months ago

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Thanks Kachuri! Yes, I know i need to do some deep digging to get this sucker out. Wondering if anyone has found someone to help them that is good at the task. Im surprised someone in BK hasn’t made this their speciality! Sounds like big business. ha

kachuri999 | 8 years and 11 months ago

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Looks like knotweed. Search for that in this forum, it’s been discussed a lot. It’s everywhere in Bed-Stuy (my yard included)! The roots run very deep, you must weed the entire plant with the root, and unless you pave the whole yard, you can’t rid of this weed at once. Good luck!