When discovering weeds on your land, there is normally a quick fix for you to do yourself to clear the site. However, if you find a suspicious that looks like Japanese knotweed then home remedies could actually make the infestation worse. Here is what not to do when you find Japanese Knotweed on your property:
If you find Japanese knotweed on your property, you may panic and want it gone immediately. Despite this, it is important to never dig up this invasive species without the help of a professional! In fact, shovelling up knotweed may actually stimulate the plant to grow quicker, therefore having the opposite of the desired effect. This is because it only takes a tiny fragment of the plant’s rhizome to spread the weed. From this, it could produce a whole new plant.
As well as this, contaminating garden waste with Japanese knotweed – no matter how big or small – is illegal to do in the UK. This means that if you dig up the weed, you will not have a legal place to dispose of it.
Another home method that some people may try to do is cutting and trimming the invasive weed. Similar to digging, cutting knotweed can spread the infestation! This is due to the fact that, unlike other weeds, Japanese knotweed does not spread via seeds. However, instead spreads when small pieces of the plant are broken off!
If you find Japanese knotweed, it’s important to act accordingly to stop the spread of the weed. Therefore, leading to less damage on yours and neighbouring properties. After all, this weed isn’t called invasive for nothing. As, it can cause great damage to paving and tarmac, building foundations and wall structures.
In summary, you should never try to tackle Japanese knotweed infestations on your own. Leave it to the professionals!
Have you seen a suspicious looking plant on your property that you suspect is Japanese knotweed? Get in touch with us today!