Editor, The News:
Re: Knotweed invades Pitt Meadows, Maple Ridge (The News, Aug. 15).
A friend pointed me to the article about the Japanese knotweed and that the property beside us was full of the bamboo weed.
When I looked at the yard I couldn’t believe my eyes how much knotweed there was.
It was a scary sight because I had been reading about how invasive this plant was and I imagined losing my home, it was so close.
The owners agreed to have a company kill the knotweed for them at a reasonable amount and two days later they started and they did the whole property over a two-day period.
They tunneled their way through out the field of plants and injected every mature stem there was.
That was Aug. 26, and by Sept. 10, I could see the plant is finally starting to die.
I would like to thank your reporters for their informative articles, as well as my neighbours for their quick and decisive response to eliminate this invasive plant as quickly as possible.
To all the residents in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows, I urge you to report any knotweed in your area to Maple Ridge bylaws department, or go online to the B.C. government website (http:www.for.gov.bc.ca/hra/plants/raw.htm).
There is also an iPhone app (http://reportaweedbc.ca_/, the mobile Report-a-Weed BC app is available free of charge for iPhone and Android platforms. It lets you report weed sightings anywhere in B.C.
Your report will go to one of B.C.’s invasive plant specialists, who will coordinate follow-up activities with the appropriate local authorities.
Private properties should be prepared to take the proper steps to remove any knotweed on their own property, because it cannot be mowed down as it will return with vengeance.
Everyone needs to be proactive in trying to eliminate this aggressive invader.
Linda Cairns
Maple Ridge