Killing japanese knotweed
Japanese Knotweed Ltd has been helping homeowners, businesses and local authorities with knotweed infestations since 2010. We are the UK’s trusted Japanese knotweed treatment and removal experts with over 10,000 satisfied customers and over 1,000 independent five-star reviews on Trustpilot.
Japanese knotweed is an incredibly resilient plant species that can withstand almost any conditions. If left uncontrolled it can lead to legal encroachment cases where knotweed spreads onto neighbouring properties or construction projects being placed on hold. But can knotweed be ‘killed’? Let’s find out.
Some common myths about killing knotweed
Contrary to popular belief, diesel does not kill Japanese knotweed. Whilst it may look like it is doing damage by distorting the top growth, the rhizomes in the soil will not be affected. This means, after a certain period, new top growth will appear and grow just as prominent as before. Even if you cut the stems and pour diesel into the top, the underground rhizome system will still regrow. In addition to this the surrounding soils will be polluted with risk of diesel, which is toxic to humans and animals, soaking into the groundwater. Most importantly this or any use of diesel other than its intended purpose is completely unethical and, in many situations, illegal.
Bleach is another chemical that is ineffective and causes other additional problems to the environment. Cutting stems and pouring bleach down them will damage the top growth, but the rhizomes will not be affected. If bleach seeps into a pond or watercourse, it’s highly toxic to aquatic life, and if it seeps into soils it can damage surrounding plants, causing more harm than good.
Whilst burning Japanese knotweed may remove the top growth, it won’t have any effect on rhizome growth. The top growth will die back, and the plant may appear to be dead, but the rhizome will be unaffected and will ultimately produce new above-ground stem growth. So, burning knotweed will inevitably just leave a black patch of land on your property, which will eventually return to Japanese knotweed growth.
Read on for the solution…
The answer is excavation
Excavation is the best option for homeowners, landowners, developers and commercial businesses needing to remove Japanese knotweed for good. The only way to get rid of Japanese knotweed once and for all is to remove the contaminated ground.
Japanese knotweed is capable of growing new shoots from its underground rhizome (root) network. Even a tiny piece as small as 0.5g is capable of allowing the infestation to regrow. With root systems that bury deep into the ground, excavation of the contaminated soil is the best way to completely remove the infestation.
Controlling Knotweed with herbicides
An alternative and highly effective option is Chemical Treatment (herbicide). A herbicide programme will control knotweed growth and stop the spread. Over the course of the plan, the treatment programme will prevent the plant producing aerial growth and additionally, prevent the rhizomes from growing further, as the herbicide exhausts the plant’s ability to grow and will force it into a dormant state.
Treatment methods include herbicide spray, stem injection and leaf wiping. Our herbicide programmes are packaged within a Knotweed Management Plan (KMP), which comes with an Insurance Backed Guarantee. If the knotweed area is likely to be disturbed physical removal of the knotweed may be required instead.
JAPANESE KNOTWEED REMOVAL COSTS
The average cost to remove Japanese knotweed varies, depending on the methods involved and the size of the affected areas. If it is identified and dealt with promptly, the costs of removing Japanese knotweed can be kept to a minimum. Long-term herbicide treatment is usually the most cost-effective control method. Our professionally delivered herbicide treatment programme will provide successful chemical control of Japanese knotweed within a period of 3-7 years.
Excavation of Japanese knotweed costs more than herbicide treatment due to labour, materials, waste removal and reinstatement costs. However, it ensures complete Japanese knotweed removal allowing free use or development of the property or land. We provide cost-efficient excavation due to our extensive experience whilst minimising waste volumes.
Following our professional surveys we will provide you with a no-nonsense, comprehensive report with no-obligation recommendations and quotes.
JAPANESE KNOTWEED DIY
There are lots of theories on the internet about how to remove Japanese knotweed – from using a lawnmower to using a flamethrower. The truth is that there is no way to deal with Japanese knotweed yourself. You need to have a plan in place for professionals to control or excavate it to get rid of it once-and-for-all.
As knotweed is an invasive species that is classed as “Controlled Waste” it can only be removed by licenced organisations. It must be disposed of safely at a licenced landfill site by a registered waste carrier. Carelessly disposed of, knotweed can cause a new infestation, meaning it cannot be binned, composted or dumped. Due to this, and the legal issues surrounding knotweed, we do not advise you try to undertake this operation yourself. Contact us instead.
JAPANESE KNOTWEED REMOVAL NEAR YOU
Japanese Knotweed Ltd has been operating nationwide since 2010 and we have established some really strong ties to local business and communities. We have highly trained and accredited surveyors and technicians carrying out treatment plans and excavation projects for hundreds of satisfied customers nationwide, and we would be thrilled to have your business. We are members of the Property Care Association and have a proven track record of working successfully for homeowners, local councils, developers, construction companies and private landowners.
If you are selling or buying a property or a plot of land and want to know if it has knotweed, or if knotweed has been identified what to do next, we can help you.
Fill in the contact form, and one of the team will get in touch.
Do you have Japanese knotweed?
The quickest way to find out is by booking a survey
Why choose us
- With hundreds of satisfied customers nationwide and over 1,000 five-star reviews on Trustpilot, we’re the UK’s trusted Japanese knotweed experts
- We work closely with you to tailor a site-specific package, often utilising several treatment techniques on a single site
- We work to the PCA Code of Practice means we can provide you with an Insurance backed Guarantee
- Our removal experts are nationwide so that we can professionally and promptly deal with any knotweed infestation near you
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