Lakshmi

Hello
I'm a newcomer to town and I noticed recently that Hopkinton has a huge infestation of Japanese Knotweed plant throughout the town. They are on my property as well as other properties around Spring St. as well as other locations around town (including EMC park). I was doing casual research about control of these weeds and was appalled to find that it is considered a major problem in UK. It is a monster weed that grows 3-5 inches/DAY in season and can spread its rhizhome upto 9 ft into the soil and similar distances across the soil to throw up shoots quickly covering large areas of a property and is resistant to most methods of control and can damage concrete, brick and stone driveways and walls and render havoc on property values. Just a google search for Japanese Knotweed will bring up hundreds of articles on the issue. They have been known to reduce property values by more than £250,000!!! I have been trying some futile methods of control over the last year but I'm slowly realizing that it makes very little difference unless the town as a whole works on this issue together. Please do research this weed and lets put together a plan of action before it is too late!