Invasive plants can pose many challenges for land owners and gardeners. From blocking drains to damaging asphalt and causing structural damage, they can create significant problems. Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica) is one of the most destructive invasive plant species in the UK. It has been described as an ‘indestructible scourge’ and can cause damage to buildings, gardens and surrounding flora at an alarming rate. It also causes blockages to drainage systems and can cause the collapse of walls and patios. In the worst cases, it can even break through concrete blocks, making them unusable.
If you have Japanese knotweed on your property, it’s important to take action and enlist the help of experts. The plant is notoriously difficult to remove and can be spread from one property to another by rhizomes and roots, so it’s crucial that it’s dealt with properly by a reputable specialist.
As a result, the best option is to contact a japanese knotweed manchester removal company and have them carry out a site survey of your premises. They will then provide a comprehensive Japanese knotweed treatment plan. This may involve excavation and chemical treatments, or a combination of both, depending on the level of infestation and your preferred approach to Japanese knotweed management.
The survey will highlight the location of any Japanese knotweed on your property and provide you with a quotation for the work required. A site visit will also allow your specialist to identify any other areas of concern and provide recommendations for further work.
It’s important to note that while it is not illegal to have Japanese knotweed on your land, it is a breach of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 to allow it to spread onto neighbouring properties. Failure to deal with this can result in a community protection notice and legal prosecution.
Japanese Knotweed is a highly invasive plant that can cause serious damage to both residential and commercial properties. It is estimated to cost the UK economy nearly £250 million a year and can damage driveways, pavements and fences as well as affecting building structures and preventing new growth. It can also suffocate native flora and disrupt the ecosystem. It can also cause severe weed pressure on residential properties, with mortgage providers refusing to lend to those who own this invasive plant.
Japanese knotweed has a number of different identification characteristics that can help you recognise it. The most distinctive feature is the zigzag pattern of the leaves. You can also spot the plant by its bamboo-like canes and bright green colour. It also produces small black berries which look similar to buckwheat achenes.
Japanese knotweed first arrived in the UK in the mid-19th Century, and was brought over for commercial cultivation and botanical purposes. It was first recorded by Dutch naturalist Maarten Houttuyn in the 18th Century, under the name Reynoutria japonica. It was later rediscovered by Philipp von Siebold and given its current name of Polygonum cuspidatum. Siebold was a Bavarian botanist who travelled extensively in Japan. He brought over a number of botanical specimens for sale and cultivation, including Japanese knotweed, which was sent to Kew Gardens in London in 1850.