Question From: E. West - Cortland, New York, United States
Q: Paul Parent told his listeners on his radio show a procedure to kill Japanese Bamboo by applying Bonide Kleen Up. My husband is very interested to know and unfortunately I did not write down everything Paul said to do. Would you please advise how to get rid of this terrible weed by applying Kleen Up. Thank you in advance!
A: Check out this website for Parent's recommendations. http://paulparentclub.com/news/11/34/printme.php?doc=augtodo.php Best And Happy Yardening, Nancy
Comment: I checked out his web site first and found nothing, and that is why I applied to you for assistance.
Response: Here is the information from the website given above.Read and follow the directions. Best And Happy Yardening, Nancy
*#1* While the summer sun is still strong and everything is still growing, let's use our time in the garden wisely. August is the best time of the year to kill problem weeds like poison ivy and poison oak that are growing on our property. Because these plants are still growing quickly now, weed killers applied to the foliage will work better than ever. Many weed killers stimulate the plants to grow faster than normal and the plant cannot make enough food for the plant so it literally grows itself to death. Most weed killers are absorbed into the foliage like a fertilizer; the plant moves it down to the roots for storage but when it gets there, the weed killer will destroy the root system and the plant will die. For this to happen properly, the plant must be actively growing but as the weather cools and the days shorten your plant's growth will slow down. The product you are using will be less effective then, so get out in the yard and kill those weeds now--use Round-Up, Killzall, or KleenUp for the best results
*#2* If you have Canadian hemlock growing on your property, this is the time to examine the foliage of the plant for possible insect problems called wooly adelgids. The insect is most active in the early spring and again in the fall of the year. Look for the insect on the tips of the plant where the new growth was made during the summer months. The adelgids will be on the underside of the foliage in clusters, and they will resemble small dots of cotton attached to the foliage. This insect is sucking the energy from the plant's blood stream and also laying eggs that will hatch in the weeks to come. As the eggs hatch, they will move up the plant and feed on new branches killing them and repeating the process in the spring until the tree has died. As a home owner it is not always possible to spray your trees, especially if they are tall and large. The best and most effective way to treat this plant is with a "systemic" product that will move up the plant protecting it from top to bottom without spraying the entire tree. Bayer Advanced has developed such a product called "Tree and Shrub." All you have to do is mix the product the product with water and pour it around the base of the tree. In a couple of weeks the tree will move the product out of the ground and take it to the top of the tree and to all of the branches, protecting it from this problem for 12 months. Your local garden center will have this product or a similar product made by Ortho, Bonide, or Ferti-Lome at their store for you to use. Be sure to read the directions before using, so the product will work effectively for you and control this insect pest.
*#3* Now is the BEST time to kill Japanese bamboo/knotweed. This plant came from the Orient during the 1800's and was introduced to this country as an ornamental plant to be used for erosion control. It did its job but it took over everywhere and is now found in most states. If you have Japanese bamboo growing on your property, you know it is a real problem to control or eradicate. The best way to kill this plant is to follow these steps. In the spring when it begins to grow, pull it out or cut it down as soon as you see it. It will come back in just a few days, so pull it out, or cut it down again and again and again all summer long. August first, stop bothering the plant and let it grow all it wants. It will soon begin to make white flowers, and that is the time for you to act, because when the plant is making flowers, all of the stored energy from the roots is being used to make flowers to produce seeds to make more plants for next year. At this time use Round-Up, Killzall, or KleenUp on the plant and the product will be able to find its way down to the roots and kill many of the plants. It won't kill all of the plants but it will kill much of the plant and sterilize the seed produced by the plant in the fall. If you follow these steps you will be able to destroy the plant in just 2 to 3 years, depending on how well it is established in your yard. Spray the foliage with either of these products every 7 days for 3 applications when you first see the flower buds appear on the plant. I like to level the area where the bamboo is growing so I can mow the areas weekly during the summer. By destroying the new growth the plant makes and forcing it to use its energy to make new growth again and again, you weaken the plant and in August when you use the weed killers on the plant it will work better. When you use weed killers during the growing season the plant will laugh at you and they will be ineffective.
*#2* If you have Canadian hemlock growing on your property, this is the time to examine the foliage of the plant for possible insect problems called wooly adelgids. The insect is most active in the early spring and again in the fall of the year. Look for the insect on the tips of the plant where the new growth was made during the summer months. The adelgids will be on the underside of the foliage in clusters, and they will resemble small dots of cotton attached to the foliage. This insect is sucking the energy from the plant's blood stream and also laying eggs that will hatch in the weeks to come. As the eggs hatch, they will move up the plant and feed on new branches killing them and repeating the process in the spring until the tree has died. As a home owner it is not always possible to spray your trees, especially if they are tall and large. The best and most effective way to treat this plant is with a "systemic" product that will move up the plant protecting it from top to bottom without spraying the entire tree. Bayer Advanced has developed such a product called "Tree and Shrub." All you have to do is mix the product the product with water and pour it around the base of the tree. In a couple of weeks the tree will move the product out of the ground and take it to the top of the tree and to all of the branches, protecting it from this problem for 12 months. Your local garden center will have this product or a similar product made by Ortho, Bonide, or Ferti-Lome at their store for you to use. Be sure to read the directions before using, so the product will work effectively for you and control this insect pest.
*#3* Now is the BEST time to kill Japanese bamboo/knotweed. This plant came from the Orient during the 1800's and was introduced to this country as an ornamental plant to be used for erosion control. It did its job but it took over everywhere and is now found in most states. If you have Japanese bamboo growing on your property, you know it is a real problem to control or eradicate. The best way to kill this plant is to follow these steps. In the spring when it begins to grow, pull it out or cut it down as soon as you see it. It will come back in just a few days, so pull it out, or cut it down again and again and again all summer long. August first, stop bothering the plant and let it grow all it wants. It will soon begin to make white flowers, and that is the time for you to act, because when the plant is making flowers, all of the stored energy from the roots is being used to make flowers to produce seeds to make more plants for next year. At this time use Round-Up, Killzall, or KleenUp on the plant and the product will be able to find its way down to the roots and kill many of the plants. It won't kill all of the plants but it will kill much of the plant and sterilize the seed produced by the plant in the fall. If you follow these steps you will be able to destroy the plant in just 2 to 3 years, depending on how well it is established in your yard. Spray the foliage with either of these products every 7 days for 3 applications when you first see the flower buds appear on the plant. I like to level the area where the bamboo is growing so I can mow the areas weekly during the summer. By destroying the new growth the plant makes and forcing it to use its energy to make new growth again and again, you weaken the plant and in August when you use the weed killers on the plant it will work better. When you use weed killers during the growing season the plant will laugh at you and they will be ineffective.
