The thought of Japanese Knotweed strikes fear into the hearts of property owners across the UK. But if spotted quickly, it can be treated. The first step before action is identification. So let’s take a look at the best approach.
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What Does Knotweed Look Like?
You may have seen Japanese Knotweed and never realised it. The mature plant has spade-shaped leaves sprouting from bamboo-like stems. Towards the ends, these become vine-like and spindly. However, if you’ve been in your property a while and don’t have Japanese Knotweed Gloucestershire can be a place where new shoots can be seen. Look out for small heart-shaped leaves on reddish sprouts. They look harmless, but you will need to act.
These immature plants grow out of tubers in the ground, which have either spread under a neighbour’s fence or become active after movement underground. However, many people discover Knotweed in their gardens but are completely unaware that they have brought it there themselves.
Contaminated soil is one of the main culprits deal with as is the damaging effects it causes to rendering and tarmac and patios. You can of course contact a Tarmac Bristol company such as https://www.thornburysurfacing.co.uk/ to come and relay your tarmac surface for you. You can also bring tiny specimens of the root of the plant with you on your shoes after a walk.
What to Do Once You Have Japanese Knotweed
The best advice is to not panic. The temptation to drag the stuff up and chop it into little pieces is there, but this might only spread the plant. Knotweed in the UK only travels via its tubers, and not by seed, but a tiny piece of root can travel on the wind and replant.
You should also be aware that there are rules in the UK concerning the disposal of knotweed. You are allowed to spray the weed with approved chemicals, but this treatment does tend to take around three years. You can also bury it, but will need a hole more than five metres deep, which, unsurprisingly, most of us don’t have. You can also burn the material, but as it needs to be fully dried out first, this leaves it vulnerable to wind. And, as mentioned, this can help it spread.
If you allow plant material from any knotweed on your property to spread, you could face a fine of £5,000. For this reason, the government recommends that you use a specialist.