The Environmental Impacts of Controlling Japanese Knotweed

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The best way of controlling Japanese knotweed is annual glyphosate spraying. It's not really the answer that many of us want to hear, but you know, there are less materials and processes involved in that approach. All of that equates to less environmental impacts essentially.

Since it was introduced to the UK in 1850, Japanese knotweed has gone from novel ornamental plant to rampant invasive species. Madeleine Finlay speaks to journalist Samanth Subramanian about the huge costs associated with finding it on a property, and Dr Sophie Hocking explains what the plant, and our attempts to control it, might be doing to the environment.. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod