Latest news with #BalsamBusters
South Wales Argus
4 days ago
- General
- South Wales Argus
What to do if you see Himalayan balsam? Advice for gardeners
Himalayan balsam, similar to Japanese Knotweed, sits among the most invasive plants that could lead to costly repairs if it takes over your home and garden. Even a wildlife charity has launched an appeal for volunteers to help clear the plant from growing up north. The Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside Wildlife Trust's "Balsam Busters" group works to remove Himalayan Balsam during the summer, the BBC reports. What to do if you see Himalayan balsam? Himalayan balsam was first introduced to the UK by Victorian botanists in 1839. However, it is now considered a weed since it crowds out native species and causes soil erosion along water courses. Himalayan balsam flowers The plant, which can grow to about 6ft 5in (2m) tall, blooms with pink or purple scented flowers from June to November. Property expert Robert Quinton at Construction Megastore Building Materials explained more. 'You can spot Himalayan balsam from its pink flowers, but it's a highly invasive species that can damage any local biodiversity,' Mr Quinton said. 'If left unmanaged, it spreads rapidly and can overwhelm gardens and surrounding areas." Should you remove Himalayan balsam? The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) advises that if you find Himalayan balsam is already growing in your garden, you should 'control or remove it'. The plant is now considered a 'problematic weed', particularly along watercourses. How to remove Himalayan balsam Himalayan balsam needs to be pulled out by hand or cut as low as possible before it seeds. Recommended reading: Mr Quinton continued: 'The most effective way to tackle Himalayan balsam is by hand-pulling or cutting it back, ideally before it starts to flower. 'When pulling it up, make sure to remove the whole plant, roots and all, to stop it from growing back. "In thicker patches, cutting the stems below the lowest node can also work well to keep it under control.'
South Wales Guardian
5 days ago
- General
- South Wales Guardian
What to do if you see Himalayan balsam? Advice for gardeners
Himalayan balsam, similar to Japanese Knotweed, sits among the most invasive plants that could lead to costly repairs if it takes over your home and garden. Even a wildlife charity has launched an appeal for volunteers to help clear the plant from growing up north. The Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside Wildlife Trust's "Balsam Busters" group works to remove Himalayan Balsam during the summer, the BBC reports. Himalayan balsam was first introduced to the UK by Victorian botanists in 1839. However, it is now considered a weed since it crowds out native species and causes soil erosion along water courses. The plant, which can grow to about 6ft 5in (2m) tall, blooms with pink or purple scented flowers from June to November. Property expert Robert Quinton at Construction Megastore Building Materials explained more. 'You can spot Himalayan balsam from its pink flowers, but it's a highly invasive species that can damage any local biodiversity,' Mr Quinton said. 'If left unmanaged, it spreads rapidly and can overwhelm gardens and surrounding areas." The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) advises that if you find Himalayan balsam is already growing in your garden, you should 'control or remove it'. The plant is now considered a 'problematic weed', particularly along watercourses. Himalayan balsam needs to be pulled out by hand or cut as low as possible before it seeds. Recommended reading: Japanese Knotweed in 'super growth' across UK expert warns When does Japanese Knotweed flower in the UK and what to do if you find some These are the 9 illegal plants that could land you with a £30,000 fine Mr Quinton continued: 'The most effective way to tackle Himalayan balsam is by hand-pulling or cutting it back, ideally before it starts to flower. 'When pulling it up, make sure to remove the whole plant, roots and all, to stop it from growing back. "In thicker patches, cutting the stems below the lowest node can also work well to keep it under control.'
BBC News
6 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Volunteers want help to stop takeover of invasive Himalayan Balsam
A wildlife charity has launched an appeal for volunteers over the summer to help clear a invasive plant which stops native species from growing in the wild. The Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside Wildlife Trust's 'Balsam Busters' group works to remove Himalayan Balsam, first introduced to the UK by Victorian botanists in 1839, from local beauty spots. Joel Micklethwaite from the trust said it was important to remove as many of the plants as possible before the end of summer, when they can drop up to 800 seeds each. "It can grow more or less anywhere, especially in shady woodlands," he said, adding "it's prolific to say the least". The plant, which can grow to about 6ft 5in (2m) tall, blooms with pink or purple scented flowers from June to November and was initially introduced to Britain as an ornamental garden it now considered a problematic weed as it crowds out native species and causes soil erosion along water courses. Mr Micklethwaite said while hundreds of volunteers from different groups got together to tackle the plant at designated events in nature reserves, everyone could do their bit within their local community. He said: "If you have a local spot, or even just your garden where its encroaching, it's better to keep it out of places where it isn't, as opposed to going into areas where it is, which can feel a lot more futile.""Especially if you can plant up afterwards with native plants." Himalayan balsam needs to be pulled out by hand or cut as low as possible before it seeds in order to be removed Anderton ,90, from Hindley, Greater Manchester, said he tries to cut the plant back when he comes across it while walking his dog in the nearby Low Hall Nature Reserve. He said: "When the flowers are dying back, I cut the plant off below the node [where new stems and leaves grow]. "If you don't do that, it branches out again." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
