Knotweed is a plant that attracts bees because of its many flowers and therefore belongs in every natural garden. Due to the rapid multiplication, special attention must be paid to care.
Characteristics
- Fallopia aubertii, also Fallopia baldschuanica or Polygonum aubertii
- Knotweed family (Polygonaceae)
- Climbing plant
- Growth height up to fifteen meters
- Spread up to six meters
- loops and expansively growing
- white, yellow or pink flowers on panicles
- give off a light, pleasant fragrance
- Flowering period from June to October
- deciduous in autumn
Soil condition
When it comes to substrate, the knotweed is quite undemanding. This is how normal garden soil can be used here:
- normal, moist soil
- Everything from alkaline to acidic is tolerated
- Avoid waterlogging
- Loosen solid ground with gravel or sand
- Put drainage in the planting hole
- insert a layer of gravel or stone here
Note: Due to the strong growth, the plant is also popularly called "architect's comfort" because it even an unsightly facade is completely covered and the optical defects can no longer be seen here are.
Heyday
In the local latitudes, the knotweed blooms from June to October, continuously. Therefore, the plant is also a very good bee pasture. In addition, the sight of the flowers enchants throughout the summer:
- white, pink or yellow flowers
- on racemose panicles
- pleasant smell
Tip: The plant attracts many insects, not just bees, with its blooming flowers and fragrant scent. So they shouldn't
Cultivate in the immediate vicinity of your seat in the garden or right next to the terrace.Fertilizing and watering
Especially in the first time after planting and during long dry periods, the plant needs a lot of water and should be watered regularly and very thoroughly.
There is also not much to consider when fertilizing:
- Compost will do just fine
- once a year in spring
- fold in carefully
- a permanent layer of mulch provides additional fertilization
- Soil doesn't dry out that quickly
Tip: Especially in winter in long dry periods it is important that you water the plant enough. Because even in winter a plant can dry out. However, you should only give water here on frost-free days.
Removed
One thing is certain, knotweed is always more difficult to remove than it is to plant and care for. Because it can be difficult if the grown plant has to be removed from a house wall or wall:
- Roots extend several meters into the ground
- cut back all new shoots radically
- Remove climbing aid from the wall
- Cut directly close to the base
- dig up the entire ground
- remove all roots
- alternatively use a herbicide
- Be careful if other plants are nearby
- is not recommended in a private garden
Note: The mechanical removal of knotweed requires a lot of effort, time and work. It can take up to five years to completely destroy the entire plant. Above all, the roots have to be removed, otherwise the plant will keep sprouting from below.
Diseases and pests
Diseases are practically unknown in knotweed.
If the leaves are brown, it is usually due to a lack of water. The following can occur due to pests:- Aphids
- spider mites in dry seasons
- a fight is not necessary
Bucket cultivation
If you just want to keep the knotweed small, you can also cultivate the plant in a large container, for example in a large wine barrel. Because if the long roots do not have that much space, the entire plant will not grow that high. Nevertheless, there are still a few things to consider here:
- Drain holes in the bottom of the vessel
- over this drainage from gravel or clay balls
- Mix normal garden soil with compost
- Insert a small climbing aid
- Insert the plant
- Press the earth down well
- water well
- Cover the pot with brushwood mats in winter
The knotweed in the pot should be cut back radically on a regular basis, otherwise it will also be too big here. As a result of this cut back, repotting in a larger container is usually not necessary. If compost is regularly fertilized in spring, the plant does not need fresh soil.
Plants and planting time
Suitable planting times are spring or autumn. If container goods of the plant, which is very popular with bees, have been obtained from retailers, then these can also be planted all year round. However, care should be taken to ensure that the soil is frost-free:
- Planting hole twice the size of the root ball
- if drainage is applied, a little deeper
- keep a distance when there are several plants
- at least 1.50 meters
- a distance of three meters is better
- at the same time also attach climbing aid
- Use knotweed
- Fill in prepared soil
- Lightly press
- water well and cover with mulch
Tip: If you fail to install the trellis during or before planting, it may be due to the Rapid and rapid growth of the plant will be difficult to attach to a wall afterwards attach.
Cut
The knotweed is a very vigorous, climbing plant that can overgrow a facade with the right climbing aid within a few years. If you do not want it to grow so big and wide, a regular cut is required:
- Plant tends to shed
- radical cutback possible
- should be done in autumn
- then the shoots are without leaves
- sprouts healthy again in spring
- regular pruning in February or March
- more often if necessary
- The plant can penetrate into any crevice with fine shoots
- also grows over the roof without a cut
Note: You don't have to be squeamish when cutting knotweed. Because the plant sprouts again quickly and cannot be stopped by a radical cut down to the base.
Location
When choosing the location, the first thing to pay attention to is the strong, rapidly spreading growth. However, removal if the location is not suitable will be very difficult. An old house wall is therefore particularly suitable for the knotweed. Fallopia aubertii makes no great demands on the location. In general, a climbing aid is important so that the plant can curl to the sides and upwards:
- sunny to partially shaded location
- shade is also tolerated
- on an east, west or north side of the house
- a south wall, on the other hand, is rather unsuitable
- location protected from rain
- ideally a wall under a roof overhang
- on an arcade or pergola
- The substructure must be sufficiently stable
Tip: Avoid planting the plant in low sheds or garden houses, because such a low building can be completely overgrown in a very short time. Trees or rose arches as a growth aid are by no means recommended.
Overwinter
The knotweed is usually hardy. It loses its leaves in autumn and only the long tendrils remain. However, the tendrils can partially freeze to death in a very harsh winter, during which there are very high sub-zero temperatures for a long time. If these frozen shoots are cut back, they will sprout again quickly and healthily.
Multiply
Propagation succeeds both with cuttings, which can be obtained in February, as well as with offshoots that grow herbaceous in summer and are treated in the same way as the bare shoots:
- in February before budding
- Cut cuttings about 10 centimeters long
- not yet lignified are suitable for propagation
- herbaceous offshoots in summer
- Dip the interface in rooting powder
- in potting soil about an inch deep
- keep moist
- Pot in a warm and sunny place
The roots form after about three to four weeks. Then the cuttings can simply be planted in the desired location.
