Any green-fingered experts?

My Mum and Dad have had a plant growing in their back garden recently.

It sprang up very quickly and is now about 5 feet high, and my Mum doesn't think it's the dreaded knotweed.

Any ideas what it could be?

I might.

I'm a bit rusty these days but I did work in a garden centre for 7 years.

To be honest if it's grown that quick then whatever it is I'd rip it out, cut it down fairly low but leave some greenery, drench it a few times in a systemic weedkiller containing glyphosate (recommmend very strongly mixed roundup) and then after a few days dig it out getting as much as possible up.

If it is knotweed, you'll need to repeat that several times but don't let it grow so lage again.

is it a tree, shrub or a plant ?

If it looks like this you are in trouble

Not Himalayan Balsam? Does it have quite pretty pink flowers, large green leaves, slim stem? Although that doesn't tend to grow up on it's own, will spread very quickly with its explosive seedpods, it's a right pain.

Buddliea's can be a right pain, their seeds can be windblown or deposited in bird poo, same with hawthorn's although theyre a bit slower growing tbh, we get rowan tree's and English maple all over the place in our back garden, theyre easy enough to uproot as saplings, but more difficult if they've been left a while

The Balsam is very fast growing but very easy to uproot when up to about 2ft then it's a bit more of a challenge. Get rid of it asap if it is this, once it's spread you'll be uprooting it for days and days, it's very persistent. Another delightful invasive species.

its weed isnt it
go on be honest
we wont judge

[dizzyblonde]

My allotments full of weird stuff. Including the very rare duck shaped potato. Send us a pic....

[Geodude]

Pm'ed. Does it look like this: Himalayan balsam (as stated by MYB)



or this: Knotweed



or do your olds have vases around the house like this