NW Esplanade Knotweed Challenge

My name is Michael Storey, and I live at 3017 NW Esplanade, Seattle, WA 98117. For the last few years, myself and neighbor John have been trying to keep the Japanese knotweed at bay on the corner of 31st Ave NW and NW Esplanade.

Both John and I have tried different approaches over the years. Most recently, you will have seen the black plastic laid over the top of the old weed barrier that had started to deteriorate. While the plastic had a short-term impact, it wasn’t a long-term solution.

I want to invite suggestions and debate from the community about how best to solve the problem. I do have two solutions that I would like to offer to kick things off. Both solutions require having the area landscaped—clearing all existing weeds and materials, and then laying down a new strong weed barrier.

The first solution would be to cover the area with artificial turf. This would be neat and create a better aesthetic than a weed barrier alone. [UPDATE 5/4/25: Already had a few comments that this is not a preferred option. That's ok! Send thoughts and ideas, or comments]

The second solution would be to cover the site in large red river rocks. These rocks are often used in Seattle to act as retaining walls for lawns that are on sloping ground. This second option would be around the same cost as the turf.

UPDATE 5/4/25: Another option suggested would be to clear the site, dig out as much of the roots as possible, cover it with loose weave burlap and Hydroseed the site (explanation here). This would require regular weed whacking to keep any new shoots at bay (could take years of regular maintenance - every 2 weeks in the spring and summer, until mid fall).

Regardless of the final landscape solution, we will share the intended plans, and I will visualize the intentions, and seek community input before proceeding. I will also ensure permits and permission are secured before any work is done (I am in contact with an advisor from the City).

The area is approximately 2000 square feet.