Cut That Knotweed!

Invasive plants threaten local ecosystems, but gardeners can fight back.

What are invasive plants?

04 April 2025 - BREWSTER, MA - They came, thrived, and now home gardeners might be the best line of defense. The Native Plant Trust shared the habits and habits of the region's most invasive species with more than a hundred gardeners and conversationists in Brewster this week.

Native Plant Trust's Erik Sechler defines invasive species at plants introduced after European settlement, plants not native to the region, and plants which thrive at the expense of other native plants.

Why does controlling invasive plants matter?

Gardeners can fight back, said Sechler. Japanese Knotweed is one example of an invasive, he said, to widespread insider laughter as he asked how widespread it was on the Cape. Hint: it is very widespread and very invasive.

While it can seem overwhelming, gardeners can work to manage invasive plants. This matters because invasive plants will change the chemistry of the soil, drive out native plants, impact pollinators and birds, and essentially change the ecological balance.

To cut or not to cut?

Cut, definitely cut, according to Sechler. "If you do only only one cutting and mowing a season that does not help," he said. "If you really want to control and knock back the species, what you're doing is trying knock its ability to photosynthesize by removing leafy material  .... knock it back, it comes again, knock it back. Every time you do that it starts to lose its momentum and starts to give up. It's a lot of work but it can be successful."

For more information

Visit Native Plant Trust website

Watch full presentation:

https://vimeo.com/1072531592