Gardening
Japanese knotweed is no stranger to British soil, having spent well over a hundred years exploring our green and pleasant land with the same keen eye and ambition to see as much as any tourist visiting our shores. The downside of Japanese knotweed is that now it’s here, it’s very hard to get rid of it, and if it’s close to your home, the consequences could be disastrous. Being a fast growing and invasive plant, knotweed will never keep down it’s own end and left untreated will spread from garden to garden, and trust me, it doesn’t want its ball back, it’s moving in!
There are a lot of myths about knotweed removal, some having more basis in truth than others. One myth is that it will cut through concrete, however this is untrue. Being and invasive plant it will exploit any cracks or crevices in concrete, stonework or brickwork. These weak points are easy pickings for the small growing tips of the plant and as the plant grows ever deeper and ever larger, it can, over time have a destructive affect on derelict buildings. Structurally sound buildings are quite safe, however some banks are refusing mortgages if Japanese knotweed is found on your property or that of a neighbour. I light of this, removing Japanese knotweed can have a positive affect on the saleability of your property.
Japanese knotweed eradication is also subject to certain myths. For example, only a professional company can get rid of it and doing it yourself is against the law. Although Japanese knotweed removal is subject to some strict guidelines, and non compliance is a criminal offence, this does not mean that you cannot tackle the problem yourself. As long as you’re aware of your responsibilities regarding knotweed eradication and it’s removal, you could save yourself a tidy sum as long as you don’t dig it out or tackle it with a strimmer as it can regrow from a tiny fragment of root. Allowing it to grow in the wild through poor disposal is a criminal offence, so if you are tackling knotweed removal yourself, using chemicals to destroy the plant is better than physical removal.
Regarding DIY Japanese knotweed solutions, use a weed killer which attacks the roots as well as the foliage above ground and apply at the end of the growing season. Applying as the plant is naturally dying back will more effectively draw the weed killer deeper into the root system, giving you a better chance of complete eradication. It may take several growing seasons to completely eradicate the weed. Where the regrowth is less and less each year, you know you’re in the right track, however if your best efforts garner little success, it’s time to call in the professionals as they have access to licensed weed killers and a better knowledge of knotweed solutions which the average home owner cannot undertake.