Domestic Japanese Knotweed Services

Japanese knotweed is an invasive and fast spreading plant that can cause major damage to domestic properties. The roots can grow to a considerable depth and great width, meaning that house foundations, walls and utilities can be affected if measures are not put in place to tackle the weed.

Being capable of growing from the tiniest of root fragment means that knotweed can establish itself almost anywhere. Its fast-growing nature means that in less than 10 weeks, it can grow to a height of 3 metres. Longer-term it has the capability of growing up to 3 metres down and a reach of up to 7 metres across, so it is vital that knotweed growth is controlled at as early a stage as possible.

How did Japanese knotweed get here?

Japanese knotweed was introduced to the UK in the mid-19th century, when it was at first viewed as a highly decorative ornamental plant and was used to stabilise railway embankments. The plant soon fell out of favour but had already started its rapid spread and today remains a menace that needs to be controlled, not only by domestic properties but by commercial operations, developers, local authorities and more.

What damage can knotweed cause?

The roots of Japanese knotweed can cause extensive damage to domestic properties. Knotweed can exploit weak points in walls, brickwork, foundations and pipework. It can even interfere with electric and other underground cabling causing bigger issues the longer it is left unchecked.

Impact on property values

Eradicating Japanese knotweed from a domestic property can be expensive but necessary. Anyone planning on selling their home will need to ensure that it is knotweed free and has to declare this, and could potentially be sued afterwards should this not prove to be the case.

Problems with mortgage lenders

The presence of Japanese knotweed on a domestic property can prevent a mortgage lender being willing to provide the funds. Only when a property that has a current Japanese knotweed infestation is undergoing a recognised treatment programme, or it has been successfully completed, will the mortgage lender be willing to provide the loan.

What to do if you have knotweed at home

If you believe you may have Japanese knotweed present on your property, it is vital that you receive professional support with the correct identification, treatment and eradication. A management plan for the plant must be drawn up and implemented, delivered by a professional knotweed removal company, as treating it yourself can lead to further spread. 

Our Japanese knotweed removal services

We can use a number of different methods to deal with your knotweed problem. The most commonly used and most cost-effective method is using herbicides to kill off the plant. The chemicals will be applied to the plant, either sprayed in the foliage or applied to the root stems, with repeat treatments over a number of years, often between 3-5 years.

Chemical treatment obviously takes time to eradicate knotweed, but is highly effective, though it is not always suitable for use in all areas, especially those that are environmentally sensitive. We offer other more environmentally friendly knotweed removal methods including Meshtech treatment and biological methods using natural predators to control the growth, but these are not typically used in domestic settings.

The quickest, but costliest method of knotweed removal is through excavation. Not typically used in a domestic setting, other than when there is a real need for the knotweed to be eradicated swiftly (perhaps when it is preventing house sale), excavation will deliver good results swiftly. Most households though will generally opt for chemical treatment of knotweed. 

For more information on the range of services, we can provide to deal with your Japanese knotweed problem, get in touch with us today.