Darren Greatbatch, Specialist Advisory Manager, Amenity & Invasive Weeds, at Environment Controls.
Last reviewed on .
In this article our invasive plants experts explain how to remove Himalayan balsam, and provide some shocking facts about this invasive plant you may not know about.
QUICK LINKS
- What is Himalayan balsam?
- Some shocking facts about Himalayan balsam
- Pulling by Hand
- Chemical Control
- Long-term Management
- Cutting / Strimming
What is Himalayan balsam?
Himalayan balsam is an invasive plant that’s very prevalent in the UK (more so across England and Wales) and especially abundant alongside watercourses, marshes, woodland edges, urban waste ground, and railway embankments. It’s root systems are very shallow (as the image below shows), making this plant easy to pull up – however long-term control is required, and in this article we explain some of the best methods to get rid of Himalayan balsam.
Some shocking facts about Himalayan balsam:
- Whilst no official percentage or total area of land covered is published, UK survey estimates indicate its range is expanding at an average rate of 645 km² per year.
- Each plant produces up to ~800 seeds per plant which are dispersed by explosive seed pods that sit at the top of the plant, enabling the pods to catapult its seeds up to 7 metres away.
- It is highly invasive, covering 80 – 100% of the ground in infested sites.
- The key is consistent removal before it seeds (usually June–October).
Main methods for removing Himalayan balsam:
Pulling by Hand
(often referred to as ‘balsam bashing’)
- Best for smaller patches.
- Easy because the stems are shallow rooted.
- Plants should be pulled from the root and snapped above the lowest node to prevent regrowth.
- Crush or break stems to stop them re-rooting.
- Leave in a horizontal pile to rot down well away from water.
Chemical Control
- Herbicides such as glyphosate are an effective option, but require a license if spraying near water.
- Usually requires repeat treatments under a monitoring programme.
- Herbicide must be used carefully to avoid harming native species and always in compliance with local regulations.
Long-term Management
- Seeds can remain viable in the soil for 2 – 3 years, so monitoring is required to stop repeat infestations.
- We recommend returning annually to check for regrowth and clear new plants until no more seedlings emerge.
- Encouraging native vegetation to recolonise also helps suppress balsam regrowth.
Cutting / Strimming
- Cutting the plants at ground level before flowering (in June) is best.
- May need repeating once or twice as regrowth can occur.
- Avoid cutting after seed pods form, as they explode and will spread the seeds afar.
Waste removal
Important: Waste from Himalayan balsam removal may still contain seeds, so must NOT be composted or left where seeds could enter waterways. It spreads aggressively along rivers and streams. It’s always best to have a professional contractor remove this plant to ensure it doesn’t return, but even if you’re pulling up this plant yourself, we can help by getting rid of the waste for you.
Get in touch to book a survey or request a quote.