Japanese Knotweed and How to Get Rid of It
Japanese knotweed first came into the country as a decorative plant in the early 19th century. The plant has been causing mayhem by spreading all over the place over the years. Knotweed infestation has become one of the biggest problems in the United Kingdom over the past decades. The weed grows at a quick pace and is quite difficult to deal with. When left unattended, Japanese knotweed may cause serious damage to the structural integrity of your property.
Removal of Japanese knotweed can become a priority of many homeowners these days. The Environment Agency in the UK has already named Japanese knotweed as one of the most invasive and aggressive plants in the country. The weed just keeps growing, and people in urban areas are doing everything they can do to eradicate Japanese knotweed from their properties.
You’ll be surprised to know that Japanese knotweed can grow at such a rapid pace it can take over your entire garden before you know it. It’ll stop you from entering your own garden due to the quick growth of the weed. The council recommend cutting down and burning the weed but this type of method isn’t going to solve the core problem of a Japanese knotweed infestation, as new shoots will start growing from the roots in no time.
Need To Knows When Removing Japanese Knotweed
Environetuk states that the first step in your journey of eradicating Japanese knotweed from your property is to identify the right weed. There are different types of weed growing in your garden, and it may be difficult to identify Japanese knotweed at first. The first step is to take a closer look at the ground at the start of the growing season.
If you notice tiny red-coloured shoots popping out of the ground – especially in spring, you are in trouble. The red shoots will turn green and start growing at a rapid pace before long. The leaves of Japanese knotweed have a heart shape with white flowers growing on the plant. The flowers will grow during the summer months. Knotweed grows really fast, and you will be surprised to know that knotweed can grow by up to 20cm in a single day.
Make sure you remember that it isn’t easy to get rid of Japanese knotweed from your garden. Many homeowners have tried and failed in their endeavours. People have done so many things in their war against Japanese knotweed. These people have tried to cut it down and used expensive weed killers. In fact, some homeowners have even gone to the extent of digging up the earth to pluck out the structures of the plant. However, most of these efforts may amount to nothing due to the aggressive growth of the weed. If you plan to take the DIY route to combat Japanese knotweed, be prepared for a long and arduous war against the plant.
In case you plan to use herbicides to get rid of Japanese knotweed, make sure you use herbicides available at the local garden center. Don’t use unlicensed weed killers to get rid of knotweed in your garden. Unlicensed weed killers can harm the other plants in your garden. On the other hand, most of these herbicides are not available for sale because they contaminate nearby water sources. Hence, you should only rely on approved pesticides to get rid of Japanese knotweed in your garden.
If you plan to uproot knotweed out of your garden, you should consider proper disposal since incorrect disposal will result in heavy fines. You should bury knotweed on your own ground only at a depth of more than 5 meters. You should cover the uprooted plants with a material to prevent them from growing up through the material. A root barrier membrane layer is a good example of such material. You shouldn’t bury any other kind of waste with that material. You’ll also want to consider any garden furniture after you’ve sorted out the knotweed, just incase spores are lingering on them.
If you are still experiencing Japanese knotweed issues even after doing all of this, you need professional assistance. Professional Japanese knotweed eradication companies use powerful herbicides that are usually not available for sale to the general public. Some of these herbicides are extremely powerful to kill the weed. We are a highly skilled and reliable service provider that specializes in the eradication of Japanese knotweed. Our expert team offers comprehensive digging out of the Japanese knotweed so that nothing remains there for regrowth. In fact, our expert team will take care of all your Japanese knotweed problems to the best of our ability.