Japanese Knotweed Brislington
– Control & Removal by West Country Knotweed Removal Specialists
Do you know or think you might have knotweed at your property? Have you read how it is likely to amount to £1,000’s to remove it? Are you worried it could have an effect on your mortgage or the potential to market your property? Please don’t fret! West Country Knotweed Removal provides expert services for the treatment and management of Knotweed Brislington, and be reassured it doesn’t cost as much as you might be thinking.
What Is Japanese Knotweed Brislington?
Japanese Knotweed is a perennial weed that grows and advances speedily if not managed. The weed suppresses all the other plants and flowers growing close to it from the crown and rhizomes (root system) that spread extensively underground. The shoots die off above ground in the winter and re-emerge above ground once more in late springtime, and early summer season. Any effectively- established shoots can grow over 9ft high and can colonize the soil within a few years. There are many articles that say it is possible to eliminate the roots with chemicals, however, you will need an NPTC qualified person to make use of any chemicals resulting from new legislation which covers the management, and removal of Knotweed and the use of herbicides.
There are myths that say you can remove Knotweed yourself, however, it is an extremely difficult and intricate procedure and frequently, not successful unless you employ an expert in knotweed.
In the peak of the growing season, 60% of the Knotweed plant is its roots underground so removal is very difficult also it spreads wildly from one tiny fragment of crown or rhizome. Removing Knotweed material without significant knowledge carries a very high probability of scattering the plant to other regions of the soil which were previously unaffected.
West Country Knotweed Removal is an expert on knotweed and they have many years of experience in removing and controlling it. If you are concerned you might have knotweed at your property, contact us on 0117 321 7799 or 07531142316and one of our team can answer any questions you may have a book your no-obligation site visit.
How do I get rid of Knotweed?
There are different methods of removing and controlling Knotweed and a Knotweed Expert can advise you on the best and most efficient procedure for your property and the area you live in. We offer Knotweed services for residential business and development sites and our services are bespoke to your needs and where the knotweed is present.
Stem-Injection is usually a low impact approach to removal and there is little chance of disturbing or killing the plants growing close to it. The stem injection technique is normally used for smaller sized areas of Knotweed where it has established itself among plants and vegetation that you might want to maintain. It’s also a method usually used when Knotweed is near a watercourse as the herbicides used won’t run into the water and become an environmental issue. The stem injection process may be used in dry or inclement weather conditions and the soil can’t be disturbed following the treatment.
Foliar Spray Application is often employed and is among the most favourable control methods along with stem injection. The method can be used to treat the Knotweed over a number of growing seasons. Determined by how big the area of Knotweed is it is frequently sprayed 2- 3 times in the first year and once in the subsequent years. The chemical used is an Environment Agency approved herbicide and requires dry weather conditions and the soil to remain undisturbed in the following years to be effective.
Weed Wiping Method is when the leaves of the plant are wiped with a sponge that is soaked with the necessary herbicide. It’s a low impact treatment method and doesn’t kill or disturb the plants surrounding it, nonetheless, its use depends upon the size of the area of knotweed and is mainly used on smaller growth areas before it has grown and spread out of control.
Bund / Stockpiling Method is a blended treatment that uses stem-injection or foliar application, followed by excavating the underground material and removing the soil and materials to a different location in which the emergence of ‘new shoots’ can be subjected to further herbicide application. This technique can be used on sites where you need the removal of the knotweed to be quick and not done over several seasons so is consequently especially beneficial to building plots and development sites as work can continue straight away.
Cell Burial / Root Barrier Method is a treatment employed when there is sufficient space on-site to create a cell burial or to utilise a root barrier system to avoid the considerable costs of transporting the soil and waste to landfill. Cell burial buries the Knotweed waste to a minimum depth, or if encapsulated within a geo-membrane it can be closer to the surface of the ground. Root barriers can be installed both vertically and horizontally when there is a danger of cross-boundary contamination. Again, an approach generally used on development sites when development work has to commence promptly.
Excavation & Removal Off-Site is a legitimate and fast control alternative that has its advantages for development sites if done correctly, nonetheless, a great deal of Knotweeds Specialists are not advocates of it simply because it raises significant logistical obstacles. The challenge being it comes with a higher than normal chance of the Knotweed spreading along with the cost of securely transporting the material to a designated landfill site. There is also a substantial duty of care requirements under the Environmental Protection Act (EPA) 1990 when using this method and only Knotweed Specialist should consider using this approach. In summary Excavation & Removal must only be used as an absolute last measure.
West Country Knotweed is an expert in all methods of controlling and removing Japanese Knotweed and will come out to your property or site to properly assess and advise on the best method to use.
Is Knotweed Poisonous to Dogs, Cats and People?
In simple terms, Japanese Knotweed is not toxic and harmful to dogs, cats, humans or any other animals like some other highly invasive plants. It’s not harmful to touch, nonetheless, use extreme care when in close proximity to it to avoid unintentionally allowing it to spread.
Japanese Knotweed could possibly be termed as ‘poisonous’ by developers and homeowners because of its highly invasive growth, capacity to spread from a tiny particle left and just how difficult it is to remove completely.
Some Knotweed Common Myths (several of which are taken advantage of by some contractors for financial gain)
“It will grow through solid concrete”
“It will destabilise foundations”
“It will cause structural damage”
“Property affected by Japanese Knotweed is not mortgageable“
Essentially, if the previous groundwork or construction has been carried out to an acceptable standard then Knotweed is not going to grow ‘through solid concrete, it does not destabilise solid foundations and it is highly, highly unlikely to ‘cause’ architectural damage. In truth, these claims are misleading, to say the least.
Nonetheless, in a few instances, if foundations or concrete are old, badly built and have pre-existing cracks or fractures within, then Knotweed will certainly exploit any weak point in its search for light and water and will swiftly establish itself, whilst exacerbating the original fracture and possibly causing the structure to disintegrate.
West Country Knotweed Removal Specialists cover the whole of the South West, including Brislington and the surrounding areas of Bristol and Bath. Additionally, we carry out contracts in the West Country, as far North as Shropshire and into the Midlands & Birmingham areas.
We are a fully qualified Japanese Knotweed Certificated Surveyor (JKCS) and a family-run business that specialises in the control and removal of Knotweed Brislington as well as other invasive plant varieties and ‘general nuisance weeds’ that are found in the United Kingdom for residential premises and land development sites.
We also offer tree services, such as pollarding, crowning, pruning and felling, through our NPTC chainsaw operators, all of whom possess a vast amount of experience within the forestry industry.
Our Qualifications & Accreditations:
City & Guilds NPTC Level 2
Principles of Safe Handling& Application of Pesticides (PA1/ PA6)
Principles of Safe Handling & Application of Pesticides near water (PA6AW)
Herbicide Stem Injection
Members of The Property Care Association
The Control& Eradication of Japanese Knotweed Surveyor’s Training Course
Qualified Technician (PCAQT) in Japanese Knotweed
Accredited Surveyor in Japanese Knotweed
Whilst there are plenty of contractors who operate within the UK weed control industry who will be legitimate, knowledgeable and experts, unfortunately, you will find there are lots of businesses who claim to have the experience, qualifications and accreditations to ‘eradicate’/ ‘eliminate’ Japanese Knotweed at a low cost. Nevertheless, we would advise anyone to exercise caution and to make sure that the contractor/ company you enlist to undertake the control programme are qualified to do so and they adhere to the industry codes of practice.
If you know or think you could have Knotweed in Brislington Bristol, call us on 0117 321 7799 or 07531142316 and one of our West Country Knotweed experts can answer any queries you may have and can also arrange a no-obligation site visit.
Martyn Lenthall
Martyn works for West Country Knotweed Removal as a marketing specialist. He takes great pride in creating quality content regarding Japanese knotweed.
FAQs
What is the best herbicide for knotweed? ›
Glyphosate is the herbicide of choice for controlling knotweed.
How do professionals get rid of Japanese knotweed? ›The best approach to control is through a combination of cutting and herbicide application. A late spring/early summer treatment followed by an early fall re-treatment is needed. Several years of treatment may be needed for well-established populations.
Can you permanently get rid of knotweed? ›Spraying or injecting the stems with chemicals can be an effective treatment to stop knotweeds spreading. You must only use approved herbicides. You'll have to respray. It usually takes at least 3 years to treat Japanese knotweed.
What kills Japanese knotweed permanently? ›Chemical controls of removing Japanese knotweed
A glyphosate-based weedkiller is the best option here, though bear in mind it can take several applications, over up to four seasons, to completely eradicate Japanese knotweed. It's best applied to cut canes so the weedkiller can thoroughly penetrate the plant and roots.
To achieve control of Japanese knotweed, glyphosate must be applied in late summer/autumn after the plant has flowered. Applying glyphosate earlier in the year may stunt growth, but it will not kill the plant.
What pesticide kills Japanese knotweed? ›Glyphosate based products, like Round Up, are effective against japanese knotweed. These herbicides can either be sprayed onto the leaves or injected into the stem of the plant. The plant should be sprayed with weed killer at several stages during its growth.
What is the cheapest way to get rid of Japanese knotweed? ›The cheapest way to deal with a Japanese knotweed infestation is with herbicide treatment. However, this is generally recognised as being a 'control' rather than a one-off solution, because there's a risk of dormancy and regrowth, especially on land that's disturbed.
Does cutting Japanese knotweed make it spread? ›Knotweed Not's
Do not spread Knotweed stem and crowns. If you cut down Knotweed, it is best disposed of on site (burned or placed in a garbage bag for disposal). Do not spread soil contaminated with Knotweed rhizome. Any soil that is obtained from ground within 7 m of a Knotweed plant could contain rhizome.
Roundup Tree Stump, Gallup, Landmaster, Pondmaster, Ranger, Rodeo, Touchdown, Garzon Pro and Vitax are proven to be the best weed killing herbicides to kill Japanese Knotweed.
How do you get rid of knotweed naturally? ›Cut Down and Remove the Canes
One method is to use sharp pruning shears or loppers to take down the stems as close to the ground as possible, making sure to remove every last cut piece and fragment because as little as half an inch of the root or cut stem can grow into another plant.
Can Japanese knotweed grow through concrete? ›
The simple, and definitive, answer to the question of "can Japanese knotweed grow through concrete?" is no, it cannot. No matter how virulent this weed is, it does not have the force to break through brick or concrete.
How do I get rid of knotweed in my lawn? ›For best results, a preemergent herbicide should be applied prior to seed germination. There are many herbicides that can control prostrate knotweed. Preemergent active ingredients labeled to control prostrate knotweed include atrazine, dithiopyr, oxadiazon, pendimethalin, prodiamine and trifluralin.
Can you suffocate knotweed? ›Another strategy is to smother the plants with heavy plastic or other material heavy enough to prevent the plants from growing through. Weight the barrier to keep the cover in place for 3–5 years. Continue to monitor the site after this is removed.
How deep are Japanese knotweed roots? ›Japanese Knotweed is a resilient and tough weed. It has roots that can grow to a depth of 2 meters. These roots are known as rhizomes – they're a special sort of root that is also a 'shoot'. These stretch out horizontally and can extend up to 7 meters wide.
Why should you not cut Japanese knotweed? ›If you do find Japanese knotweed on your property it is most important that you prevent further spread of the plant. Do not strim, cut, flail or chip the plants as tiny fragments can regenerate new plants and make the problem even more difficult to manage.
What will choke out Japanese knotweed? ›Tarps are a great choice, and they are widely available at not only home improvement stores but also discount stores. In addition to tarps, people also use old carpeting to kill Japanese knotweed by choking it out. This material is tough enough that there is little possibility of its being punctured.
Should I cut down knotweed? ›Using a shovel or similar digging tool may aid in the removal of smaller plants but it is essential to remove the entire plant, including all roots. This means digging out and sifting through the soil after the main stem is removed. Any portions of the root system not removed can re-sprout.
How quickly does knotweed spread? ›At its most prolific, Japanese Knotweed can grow up to 20cm per day. The roots can grow 3 metres deep into the ground and spreads 7 metres in all directions, which can lead to structural problems within properties.
How do you apply Roundup to Japanese knotweed? ›Inject the needle between the first and second nodes (up from the bottom) of the Japanese knotweed cane. The herbicide squirts out of a small hole in the needle. After thrusting the needle into the Japanese knotweed cane, make sure this hole is positioned within the hollow area of the cane.
What kills giant knotweed? ›Herbicides containing the active ingredient glyphosate are effective at controlling both species of knotweed. For large infestations high volume (spray to wet) applications are the most practical. Care should be taken during application to avoid injury to non-target plants.
What plants outcompete Japanese knotweed? ›
Switchgrass was chosen in the hope that its deep and extensive root system (reaching 9 feet deep or more) could compete with that of knotweed, and that the density of above-ground growth might shade out knotweed sprouts.
What is the best spray for Japanese knotweed? ›Roundup, Gallup, Landmaster, Pondmaster, Ranger, Rodeo, and Touchdown are all herbicides recommended to kill Japanese Knotweed. They are all glyphosate-based herbicides and will kill the troublesome weed. The best time to spray the leaves of Japanese Knotweed with herbicide is late summer or early autumn.
Is it hard to sell a house with Japanese knotweed? ›Can you sell a property with Japanese Knotweed? You can sell a property with Japanese Knotweed; however, you may need to take some extra measures to ensure that potential buyers feel comfortable purchasing the house and confident that they will be able to secure a mortgage from their bank.
When should I remove Japanese knotweed? ›Japanese knotweed is similar to any other weed – it is best treated in the spring and summer, when the rain is less likely to wash away any herbicide-based treatment. However, you can carry an excavation out year-round, if the location of the weed has been established.
What happens if you touch knotweed? ›Japanese knotweed is not poisonous and is not harmful to touch, however, always use caution to avoid inadvertently allowing the infestation to spread.
How far down do knotweed roots go? ›Under the surface of the ground, roots can grow as far as 7 metres horizontally and up to 3 metres deep [2] from each Japanese knotweed shoot. Due to the speed and ease with which Japanese knotweed is capable of spreading, the plant has been labelled as invasive by the UK government.
How close can you dig to Japanese knotweed? ›It is widely accepted that if you can find Japanese knotweed growing within seven metres of your property, then you should seek legal advice. The reason for this is simple. The closer the plant is to your property, the greater the risk that the root system has spread underneath the boundary and onto your land.
What kills knotweed in lawn? ›For best results, a preemergent herbicide should be applied prior to seed germination. There are many herbicides that can control prostrate knotweed. Preemergent active ingredients labeled to control prostrate knotweed include atrazine, dithiopyr, oxadiazon, pendimethalin, prodiamine and trifluralin.
How do you apply herbicide to knotweed? ›Foliar applications of glyphosate: Spray each plant thoroughly on leaves enough to be wet but not dripping. Apply to the knotweed plants and not on the surrounding plants or soil. Use this method for late summer and fall applications – spring applications are not effective.
How do you suffocate knotweed? ›- Identify Japanese Knotweed as soon as possible to prevent further growth and damage.
- Cut down and remove the canes. ...
- Apply Glyphosate based Weed killer. ...
- Wait at least 7 days before pulling the weeds. ...
- Mow the plants weekly. ...
- Reapply Glyphosate.
Does vinegar work on knotweed? ›
There is no scientifically backed evidence to suggest that vinegar will kill Japanese knotweed. Although there has been some amateur research [6] conducted on the topic, the use of vinegar to kill or control Japanese knotweed is not recommended by any governmental guidance or professionally accredited firm.
Does mowing spread knotweed? ›Mowing/Cutting can result in the spread of Japanese knotweed under certain conditions. Mowed/cut stems/fragments with nodes/joints have the ability to develop adventitious roots and shoots if they come in contact with moist soils or water.
What is the best chemical for Japanese knotweed? ›Roundup, Gallup, Landmaster, Pondmaster, Ranger, Rodeo, and Touchdown are all herbicides recommended to kill Japanese Knotweed. They are all glyphosate-based herbicides and will kill the troublesome weed. The best time to spray the leaves of Japanese Knotweed with herbicide is late summer or early autumn.
What is the best tool to cut Japanese knotweed? ›Knotweed plants can be cut using a variety of tools: a brush cutter, lawnmower, machete, or loppers. Keep in mind; however, that even small pieces of the plant have the potential to cause a new infestation so be careful not to spread it when cutting.
What ratio of glyphosate for knotweed? ›Use Roundup Pro Biactive at a 1:2 ratio with water. This method can be useful where treatment of nearby vegetation is to be avoided or for spot treatment of small re-growth.
How does knotweed grow through concrete? ›No matter how virulent this weed is, it does not have the force to break through brick or concrete. What it does do, though, is exploit cracks and fissures in buildings as its roots expand and seek out moisture to fuel its growth.