Japanese knotweed can be an annoyance to find on your property especially when it is known to cause damage to building structures and grow up to 10cm per day! Here is our guide on what to do if you think you have found Japanese knotweed.
Japanese knotweed has many similarities to other species such as bindweed, dogwood, and lesser knotweed but there are some slight differences.
Dogwood has similar shaped leaves to Japanese knotweed but has ‘woody’ stems- a characteristic knotweed does not have. Bindweed also has similar shaped leaves, but it cannot stand by itself, and the flowers are often different colours to the Japanese knotweed. Finally, lesser knotweed has the same hollow like stem as the invasive species but the leaves and flowers are rather different.
So, try to remember how to differentiate between these plants!
The first thing to know about this weed is that it cannot disappear by just simply cutting it. The rhizomes grow underground so it will just resurface at a great pace. To get rid of the plant, a site survey and treatment plan is the recommended way for a complete eradication.
If you suspect that Japanese knotweed is growing on a neighbouring property, try to raise the issue with them and explain why it could be a problem. They have no legal obligation to remove it from their property. However, if it encroaches on to your land, they are causing a private nuisance and therefore are open to court action.
If you believe you have Japanese knotweed on your property then please get in contact with us today or for more information on how to identify and remove Japanese knotweed, simply visit our site or speak to an expert on 01782 479 444!