Japanese Knotweed
We are specialists in removing invasive plants including Japanese knotweed, for both commercial customers. Japanese Knotweed can be of concern to homeowners, commercial land owners, developers, insurers, banks and other lenders. We offer clearance and treatment of Japanese Knotweed to prevent the plant from returning. In some cases this will require on-going treatments to fully eradicate the plant.
What is Japanese Knotweed?
Japanese Knotweed (Fallopia japonica) is a non-native species, originally introduced to the UK as an ornamental garden plant. It has an aggressive growth of up to 10cm a day, with dense bamboo-like stems that grow up to 2m high. It can be incredibly difficult to remove if not managed early on. While it is not illegal to have Japanese Knotweed in your garden, you can be prosecuted if it causes a nuisance and spreads into the wild. If you are buying or selling a home you can read more about Japanese Knotweed UK Law in this RHS article.
How we remove Japanese Knotweed
We use a system of integrated weed control meaning that we combine physical control with herbicide control where possible. For various reasons physical control may not be possible or viable and that's when we'd look at herbicide alternatives. We always opt for the one which is safest and has the least environmental impact. It is a trade-off as the plant being treated has an impact of its own hence the treatment.
Why is Japanese Knotweed a problem?
When a non-native species is introduced, the environment may not have the capacity to manage the spread of that species. The invasive plant may outcompete native species for resources preventing it from growing and therefore reducing biodiversity. In addition to the effects on the environment, invasive plants can also have an effect on you:
-
Japanese Knotweed can very quickly spread and ruin your garden
-
If left untreated they can cause costly damage to your home
-
They can delay or prevent your house sale
-
If the knotweed spreads it can create acrimonious and expensive legal battles with your neighbours
Why choose Garden Thyme for Japanese Knotweed control
We are a small family run business and offer a personal service with friendly staff that can respond to you quickly. We are passionate about gardening and have many years experience in horticulture. We are qualified in the removal of invasive plants and conscious of not killing surrounding plants in the process of removing the unwanted one, this is not the case with all companies. We will also provide you with a map of the area that we will treat. Ask us about invasive plant control solutions for your green space.
Q&A with Charles
Question...
Will Japanese Knotweed affect the value of my property?
Answer...
There are over a million homes in the UK affected by Japanese knotweed. Having this weed in your garden could devalue your property or cause the sale to be delayed or fall through, due to misinformation or fears of what the knotweed might do. So it's good to know the facts and what you can do to remedy the problem. When selling your home you'll need to declare the Knotweed and provide a management plan of what you are doing to eradicate the problem. For more information, take a look at the RICS (Royal Institute of chartered Surveyors) guidelines here.
For more information follow us on social media
Book a survey today
Get in contact to book a survey to identify your invasive plant or to ask a question