Japanese Knotweed Frome Treatment and Control- by Specialists Green Leaf Remediation & Removal
Do you know if you have knotweed at your home or business? Have you read how it is going to amount to £1,000’s? Have you read how it might affect your mortgage or ability to sell your property? Please don’t worry – Green Leaf Remediation & Removal can provide you with tried and tested honest solutions for the treatment and management of your Japanese Knotweed in Frome and throughout BA11 and be reassured it doesn’t cost as much as you might think.
Japanese Knotweed is a perennial weed that will grow and advance quickly if not treated and managed. Unfortunately, like a weed it suppresses other plant life growing close to it from its crown and rhizomes root system that spread extensively below ground. The shoots die off above ground in the winter and re-emerge above ground again at the end of spring, early summer. Any effectively established shoots can grow over 9ft high and may colonize the soil within a few years if not treated and managed by someone who knows what they are doing.
There are numerous articles out there that say you can eliminate the roots with chemicals, however, you’ll need an NPTC qualified person to apply any chemicals which is a result of legislation that covers the management, removal and transportation of Japanese Knotweed. There are some myths out there that say you can remove Knotweed yourself, however, it is an extremely difficult and intricate process and usually, not successful unless you use a knotweed expert. In the peak of its growing season, 60% of the Knotweeds roots are below ground so removal is incredibly challenging and it spreads wildly from one tiny fragment of crown or rhizome. Removing Knotweed material without having significant knowledge carries a high probability of you distributing the plant to other areas of the soil which were previously unaffected.
How do I remove Knotweed Frome (BA11)?
There are different methods of treating and removing Knotweed Frome and a Knotweed Specialist like ourselves will give you advice about the best and most effective method for your circumstances and property. Here are some of the Knotweed Removal and Control Methods which the industry experts can use.
Knotweed Frome Stem-Injection is a low impact method of removal and there is little probability of disturbing or killing the plants and flowers growing around it. The stem-injection technique is normally used for smaller areas of Knotweed where it has established itself amongst plants and vegetation that you want to maintain. It’s also a method normally applied when Knotweed is close to a watercourse. The stem injection approach can be used in dry or inclement weather conditions and the soil can’t be disturbed following the treatment.
Knotweed Frome Foliar Spray Application is frequently used and is among the most favourable control methods as well as stem injection. The technique can be used to manage the Knotweed over several growing seasons. Determined by how large the area of Knotweed is it is frequently sprayed 2-3 times in the first year and once in the subsequent year. The chemical used is an Environment Agency approved herbicide and requires dry weather conditions as well as the soil to remain undisturbed in subsequent years to be effective.
Knotweed Frome Weed Wiping Method is when the leaves of the plant being wiped with a sponge that is soaked with the required herbicide. It’s a low impact treatment method and does not kill or disturb the plants encircling it, however, its use depends on how big the area of knotweed is. This method can also be used if the area of Knotweed is close to a watercourse.
Knotweed Frome Bund/Stockpiling Method is a combined treatment method using stem-injection or foliar application, followed by excavating the underground material and removing the soil and material to a different location in which the emergence of ‘new shoots’ can be subjected to further herbicide application. This method can be used on sites where you need the removal of the knotweed to be fast and not done over several seasons so is therefore specifically good for building plots and development sites as work can continue immediately.
Knotweed Frome Cell Burial/Root Barrier Method is a treatment applied if you have enough space on-site to create a cell burial or making use of a root barrier to prevent the significant costs of transporting the soil and waste to landfill. Cell burial buries the Knotweed waste to a minimum depth, or if encapsulated inside a geo-membrane it can be closer to the surface of the ground. Root barriers can be installed both vertically and horizontally when there is a danger of cross-boundary contamination. Again, a method quite often suited for development sites when development work has to commence immediately.
Knotweed Frome Excavation & Removal Off-Site is a legitimate and swift control option that has its advantages for development sites if performed correctly, nonetheless, many Knotweed experts are not advocates of it as it raises considerable logistical complications. The challenges being it comes with an extremely high chance of the Knotweed spreading as well as the cost to safely transport the material to a designated and authorised landfill site. There’s also significant duty of care requirements under the Environmental Protection Act( EPA ) 1990. To conclude Excavation & Removal must only be used as an absolute final option.
All of the above treatment, control and removal methods should be carried out by a Knotweed specialist as they will have a good understanding of the legislation and the best method for your circumstances and site.
Is Knotweed Harmful to Touch and to People and Animals?
Japanese Knotweed isn’t a toxic or poisonous weed like some others found in the UK. It isn’t harmful to dogs, cats, people or any other animals like some other very invasive plants can be. It isn’t harmful to touch, nonetheless, always use extreme care when near it to prevent unintentionally allowing it to spread.
Japanese Knotweed is often described as ‘poisonous’ by developers and homeowners because of its highly invasive growth, ability to spread from a tiny particle left and how difficult it is to remove completely without an expert.
Knotweed Myths
(several of which are exploited by some companies for financial gain)
“It will grow through solid concrete”
“It will destabilise foundations”
“It will cause structural damage”
“Property affected by Japanese Knotweed is not mortgageable“
Essentially, if the previous groundwork or construction has been completed to a satisfactory standard and is solid then Knotweed will not grow through it and destabilise solid foundations and it is highly highly unlikely to ‘cause’ structural damage. These claims are deceiving, to say the least, and completely untrue.
Nonetheless, if the foundations or concrete are old, inadequately constructed and have pre-existing cracks or fractures within them, then Knotweed will unquestionably make use of any weakness in its search for light and water and can rapidly establish itself, whilst exacerbating the original crack and possibly causing the damage to the structure which is where the myths have originated from.
Green Leaf Remediation & Removal Specialists
Green Leaf Remediation & Removal cover the whole of Frome and the surrounding areas in Somerset. We are happy to come out to you anywhere in the South West as well as the West Country, as far North as Shropshire and into the Midlands & Birmingham areas.
We are a fully qualified Japanese Knotweed Certificated Surveyor (JKCS) and a family-run business that has our customers at the heart of what we do. We specialise in treating and controlling Japanese Knotweed, other invasive plant species and ‘general nuisance weeds’ that are found in the United Kingdom for residential premises, commercial properties and development sites.
We also provide tree services, such as pollarding, crowning, pruning, felling, through our NPTC chainsaw operators, all of whom possess a vast amount of practical experience in the forestry industry.
Our Qualifications & Accreditations:
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- City & Guilds NPTC Level 2
- Principles of Safe Handling & Application of Pesticides (PA1/ PA6)
- Principles of Safe Handling & Application of Pesticides near water (PA6AW)
- Herbicide Stem Injection
- Member of the Property Care Association
- The Control & Eradication of Japanese Knotweed Surveyor’s Training Course
- Qualified Technician (PCAQT) in Japanese Knotweed
- Accredited Surveyor in Japanese Knotweed
There are many contractors who operate within the UK weed control industry that are respectable, knowledgeable and thorough specialists, however, there are regrettably a lot of companies who claim to have the experience, qualifications and accreditations to ‘eradicate’/ ‘eliminate’ Japanese Knotweed at a low cost but don’t and they don’t use the legal processes to remove and control knotweed. We would recommend anyone to exercise extreme caution and to ensure that the service provider/business you enlist to undertake the control programme are qualified to do this and they abide by the industry codes of practice.
Call us on 0117 321 7799 or 07531142316 and one of our experts will be able to answer any questions you might have about Japanese Knotweed Frome, BA11 or the surrounding areas and will be happy to arrange a free no-obligation site assessment.
