How To Get Rid of Japanese Knotweed

Fast growing and invasive, Japanese Knotweed can quickly take control of gardens, grounds, parks and wherever else it lies. It’s aggressive and persistent, unlikely to surrender to the ingredients of everyday weed killers.

If it’s allowed to grow, Japanese Knotweed can lead to structural damage, even affecting the foundations of buildings. It can destroy whatever is in its path if it isn’t kept under control. 

Removing Japanese Knotweed is important, especially if it’s near your home or other buildings. But, is getting rid of Japanese Knotweed straightforward job?

If you think you’ve identified knotweed on your property, you can’t just run a strimmer over it to remove it. This powerful plant will keep coming back unless you’ve taken proper steps, usually by involving a professional knotweed removal company, to get rid of it completely, roots and all.

So, how do you get rid of Japanese Knotweed 

You can’t just visit your local garden centre, stocking up on basic weed killer in the hope that this will do the job. Hacking away at Japanese Knotweed won’t make it go away for good, and most DIY methods of knotweed removal are doomed to failure.

Getting rid of Japanese Knotweed is considerably harder than it seems. It is a rapid growing plant and typically can grow up to 4cm in a day. It will quickly regrow if any trace of the plant’s root remains in the ground after removal.

Here are some of the best methods for getting rid of Japanese Knotweed: 

Herbicides

Herbicides are weed killers, though you won’t find the most powerful and effective ones on a garden centre shelf, as these are only available to knotweed removal professionals. Strong herbicides can be sprayed on Japanese knotweed foliage, or ideally injected straight into the stem. 

Spraying herbicides isn’t always the best option as it can also damage nearby plants. By injecting herbicides into the knotweed will get right to the source of the problem.

However, don’t expect herbicides to be a quick fix solution to knotweed. It can often take several treatments over a few years, sometimes up to 5 years, to complete the process of getting rid of Japanese knotweed. As the most cost-effective way of getting rid of Japanese knotweed, it is usually the most favoured, especially by domestic households.

Digging/excavation 

If you’re wanting a quicker way to get rid of Japanese Knotweed, then digging it up is the more efficient but costlier way. Excavating the land aims to clear it completely of knotweed right down to the roots. The roots can sprawl several metres underground, and need to be removed in their entirety to prevent the plant growing back and re-establishing itself. 

When getting rid of Japanese knotweed by digging out all of the roots, any professional removal firm will be aware of the risk of cross-contamination. Removal has to be carefully managed to ensure that roots do not embed in nearby soil, growing into whole new plants. Knotweed has to be disposed of at a licensed landfill facility and can only be transported by licenced carriers.

Digging up Japanese knotweed is usually the preferred option for those wanting a quick solution, such as developers. It can be costly and requires extensive plant machinery to clear the soil over a wide area, meaning it isn’t usually the preferred option for domestic gardens, unless you’re planning a complete renovation.

MeshTech 

If you’re looking for a state of the art method of getting rid of Japanese Knotweed, then why not choose MeshTech designed by Dr Eric Connelly and JKSL? MeshTech is an eco-friendly option. No chemicals are used, and the heavy machines aren’t called in. 

With MeshTech, the Japanese Knotweed is cut right back to its stems. Strong and hard-wearing metal mesh is used to cover what’s left. As the knotweed regrows, the large stems are cut by the fine metal mesh. The Knotweed dies above the mesh, with the stems eventually snapping. 

MeshTech is a slow solution, much like using herbicides. It could take upwards of five years to gain complete control. But, unlike herbicides, MeshTech doesn’t use chemicals. MeshTech can be used in public parks and ecologically sensitive spaces. 

Biological 

Biological controls are still in the testing phase, though it has been found that Psyllids (plant lice) can help with getting rid of Japanese Knotweed. Psyllids are a Knotweed’s natural predator. They eat the plant and can keep it under control. Don’t expect these tiny insects to completely eradicate knotweed, though they can slow down the growth of the plant to keep it manageable.

Call in the professionals

If you’re faced with having to get rid of Japanese Knotweed, it’s time to call in the professionals. This isn’t a job that anyone should attempt to do themselves. Often, getting rid of Japanese Knotweed requires a combination of methods. In almost all cases, it needs specialist equipment and professional knowledge. 

With Japanese Knotweed growing so fast, there’s little time to lose. The longer you wait, the more extensive the knotweed infestation, making it even harder, and potentially more expensive, to remove. Whether you’re struggling with knotweed on a residential property, or commercial land, get a quote for removal of Japanese knotweed.

With a 100% success rate and all of the relevant insurance-backed guarantees for our work, getting rid of Japanese Knotweed doesn’t need to be the headache it may at first seem.