The Sunshine Coast Regional District is being told that if it wants to wipe out one of BC’s worst invasive plants, herbicides may be the only answer.Many SCRD directors say they’d rather not go that route to get rid of Japanese Knotweed.
But speaking to the Planning Committee, Rachelle
McElroy of the Coastal Invasive Species Committee, said cutting back Knotweed requires constant work, and can control it, but not eliminate it.
McElroy says another challenge with cutting is finding a way to dispose of the plants… she says some communities on the Island send the Knotweed to Nanaimo’s Harmac Mill for use as hog fuel.
McElroy also says some alternatives – like injecting salt water into the plant stems – haven’t shown any success.
McElroy says the chemical used on Knotweed (Glyphosate) is injected directly into the stem of the plant, which keeps it from harming other plants and keeps it from spreading into the environment.
