How to Treat Japanese Knotweed

What is Japanese Knotweed?

Before learning about effective Japanese knotweed treatment, it helps to have an understanding of what Japanese knotweed is and where it came from. The invasive plant was first introduced to the UK from Asia as far back as the 1840s when it was sold to botanical gardens by a Dutch doctor.  

Due to it being pleasurable on the eye, it was taken up by many of those people in high society. It soon fell out of favour though, and came to be looked upon as a nuisance, and grew in the wild, sometimes uncontrollably. Over the last few decades, Japanese knotweed left unchecked has had a big impact on house prices, reducing property value for those who have not dealt with the problem effectively. 

How to treat Japanese Knotweed?

While it is important to act at first sight of the plant (usually by calling in the experts), it can sometimes take many years to completely rid a property of the plant, as it is so invasive. Japanese knotweed treatment, should usually be looked at as a long-term project, and if you can get help from a specialist in the field, this will dramatically increase your chances of successfully and permanently ridding yourself of the problem. 

So, how to treat Japanese knotweed then? Every situation is unique, of course, and if you are looking to sell your property in the near future, it’s best to treat the problem sooner rather than later. Using mechanical methods such as digging up the roots (rhizomes) is an effective speedy method but it is more expensive than chemical treatment and not always a viable option on a domestic property. Using chemicals to treat the area will take longer, but all methods when done effectively, will make your property more appealing to lenders and potential buyers than it otherwise might have been.

What are the difficulties when it comes to treating Japanese Knotweed?  

With an understanding of how to treat Japanese knotweed, it is clear that tackling it with chemicals requires time and patience. From identifying the plant, to the various techniques associated with removing it, or just controlling it, it is clearly a job best left to the experts.  

The toughest aspect of removal is the underground rhizome system, as it can grow to quite a considerable length away from the source of the plant, meaning a considerable amount of material needs to be removed in order to achieve eradication.  It only takes one small fragment of Japanese knotweed root to remain in place for it to potentially start to grow back again.  

Anyone with Japanese knotweed present on their land has a legal obligation to keep it under control, and if removed, it must be disposed of in a controlled way at properly licensed facilities. Japanese knotweed treatment, therefore, comes with great responsibility, meaning that removal of Japanese knotweed should really only be tackled by experts who will be able to do the job effectively and remove any potential risk of being sued for the plant spreading elsewhere. 

If you are looking for effective Japanese knotweed treatment, you should always look to hire a professional company that has expertise in Japanese knotweed removal and are members of the relevant industry trade body. If you suspect the plant is present, then seek professional help to confirm this, and they can then help you with a plan of how to treat the Japanese knotweed. Without the help of Japanese knotweed experts then you cannot be certain the weed is removed in its entirety and this could leave you open to costly structural damage, extensive treatments and potential lawsuits if the weed happens to spread elsewhere.