Can you really get rid of knotweed yourself?
We recently came across gardening advice from Alan Titchmarsh from BBC Gardeners’ World on dealing with Japanese knotweed. Alan rightly highlights the importance of handling this plant with caution and the legal duty to disclose its presence when selling a home. However, while it may seem manageable with a “spade and muscle,” it cannot be “burnt” to get rid of it, and we recommend contacting professionals, even for smaller patches, or even single stands of knotweed.
Why?
As soon as you put the spade in the ground – you’re actively encouraging the plant to grow, and spread. Because even a small fragment of Japanese knotweed spreads easily if disturbed and can lead to costly treatments down the line if not removed correctly. When it comes to knotweed removal, with qualified and licensed experts, you’re in safe hands.
Important points:
- Legal disclosure: It is a legal requirement to disclose the presence of Japanese knotweed on your property to buyers – if you don’t the issue will have been passed on to the new purchaser who could take legal action against you for ‘failure to accurately disclose knotweed’ even after the sale.
- Prevent spread: It is true that knotweed will breach boundaries, so it is vital to take action against allowing it to spread to neighboring properties.
- DIY removal: Digging up even small patches risks spread through improper handling and soil contamination, plus burning the removed parts of the plant will not ‘kill’ the knotweed, and there may be fragments of viable root (rhizome) still left in the soil – which will simply regenerate in the next growing season.
- Don’t ignore the risk: Do not underestimate even small infestations, risking uncontrolled growth could lead to costly and even legal implications in the long run.
- Call in the experts: It’s always best to seek professional help for treatment or removal of any knotweed infestation. A licensed contractor will be able to safely dispose of knotweed material and waste soils (that may be contaminated with small fragments), to a landfill licensed to receive it.
We deal with thousands of queries about Japanese knotweed every year as people are rightly concerned to know if they have knotweed. To help answer these questions and create a better understanding of Japanese knotweed, check out our frequently asked questions.