Your Garden Grows

Don’t Mess With Ragwort and Japanese Knotweed

If you own livestock, especially horses, then you should be aware of the perils of ragwort. This dangerous plant is specially toxic to horses, and also other livestock, and once this virulent weed has been spread and starts to grow, it can be incredibly hard to get rid of. In fact, just one ragwort plant can produce up to 150 thousand seeds, threequarters of them likely to germinate if the seeds find appropriate soil. The worst part is that you may not know you have ragwort growing on your property because the seeds can lay dormant for upwards of 20 years.

Another weed that is specially dangerous is japanese knotweed, a weed which is able to spread surprisingly fast and has roots that are able to break through masonry. The unusual, and ironic, thing about this dangerous weed, is that it is edible – apparently having a taste not unlike rhubarb. All The Same, it is a problematic weed that needs handling extremely carefully, as even the smallest section of the tuberous root can grow into a whole new plant.

Japanese Knotweed also has other uses, for example, it is a very good source of resveratrol, (which is a standard nutritional supplement, which is alleged to increase lifespan), and an first-class source of emodin (also commonly in use as a nutritional supplement to help regulate bowel movements).

If you spot either of these dangerous wild plants on your land, you should act quickly, and should confer with weed control specialists before the situation starts to become dangerous.