Control & Removal of Japanese Knotweed Hanham (BS15)

Treatment and Control of Japanese Knotweed Hanham by Green Leaf Remediation & Removal Services

Do you think you may have Japanese Knotweed and you live in Hanham or BS15?

Japanese Knotweed can sometimes also be referred to as bamboo or peashooters and it is a perennial weed that will grow and advance fairly quickly if not controlled. As a quickly growing weed, it will suppress the other plants and flowers growing close to it and this is from its crown and rhizomes (root system) that spread extensively below ground.

Its shoots above ground die off in winter and leave dead canes above ground, however, it re-emerges again at the end of spring, early summer. Any well-established shoots can grow more than 9ft high and often colonize the soil within just a few years. There are plenty of articles that say you can eliminate the roots with chemical substances, however, you will need an NPTC qualified person or business to make use of any chemicals that will actually kill knotweed and this is a result of new legislation which covers the control, and removal of Knotweed. There are many misconceptions that say you can remove Knotweed yourself, however, it is an extremely hard and intricate procedure and mostly not successful unless you employ a Japanese Knotweed specialist like south West Knotweed Removal.

In the height of its growing season, 60% of the Knotweed plants roots are underground making removal extremely challenging and it spreads wildly from one tiny fragment of crown or rhizome. Removing Knotweed material without specialist knowledge carries a very good probability of spreading the weed to other areas of the soil which were previously unaffected.

Do you think you may have knotweed at your property in Hanham?

Are you concerned it will set you back £1,000’s?

Have you been told it could have an effect on your mortgage or the potential to market your home?

Don’t worry, Green Leaf Remediation & Removal offer expert services for the treatment and control of Japanese Knotweed Hanham, the surrounding areas and the whole of South West Wales, and be reassured it doesn’t cost as much as you may think.

How can you control Japanese Knotweed Hanham?

There are various methods of eliminating Japanese Knotweed and Green Leaf Remediation & Removal Services will give you advice about the best and most effective approach for your property or land.

Stem-Injection

Stem Injection is a low impact method of removal and there is little chance of disturbing or killing the plants and flowers growing around it. The stem injection method is normally used for smaller areas of Knotweed where it has established itself amongst plants and vegetation that you want to keep. It’s also a method usually applied when Knotweed is close to a watercourse. The stem injection approach may be used in dry or inclement weather conditions and the soil can’t be disturbed following the treatment. A concentrated dose of Glyphosate Herbicide is injected into each individual cane using equipment specifically designed for the treatment and control of knotweed.

Foliar Spray Application

Foliar Spray Application is one of the most favourable control methods alongside stem injection. it is used to treat Knotweed over a number of growing seasons. It is usually sprayed onto the Knotweed 2-3 times in the first year and once in the subsequent years but this is determined by how large the area of Knotweed is. The chemical used is an Environment Agency approved herbicide sprayed onto the leaves of the weed and it needs dry weather conditions as well as the soil to remain undisturbed in subsequent years in order to work effectively

Weed Wiping Method

The leaves of the knotweed are wiped with a sponge which is soaked with the necessary herbicide. Again, it is a low impact treatment method and it doesn’t kill or bother the foliage adjoining it or have any impact on any waterways nearby. This method being used depends on the size of the area of knotweed as it is a lengthy process to carry out. It is an alternative control method to stem injection when the stems of the knotweed aren’t thick enough for the herbicide injection to be effective.

Bund/Stockpiling Method

This is a combined treatment using stem injection or foliar application as the first stage. The Knotweed is then dug up including all of the roots and moved to a different location. It is then subjected to a further herbicide application at the new location. This method is used on sites where the removal of the Knotweed needs to be quick and it can’t be carried out over several seasons, therefore, it is especially beneficial to building plots and development sites as work and construction can proceed immediately after.

Cell Burial/Root Barrier Method

This is a treatment used when there is enough space on-site to bury the whole Knotweed plant including all of the roots and soil it has grown in. To ensure it doesn’t return the whole surrounding soil has to be carefully dug up and buried. This avoids the significant costs of transporting the soil and waste to landfills and having the necessary licenses to do so. Cell burial buries the Knotweed waste to a minimum depth, or it is encapsulated within a geo-membrane surround which means it can be closer to the surface of the ground. Root barriers can be installed both vertically and horizontally when there is a threat of cross-boundary contamination. It is a method again often used on development sites when construction work has to commence immediately.

Excavation & Removal Off-Site

Excavation and Removal off-site is a swift removal method that has significant advantages for development sites if performed correctly and by a specialist. A lot of qualified Knotweed specialists aren’t advocates of this removal method as it raises significant logistical difficulties. The challenges being it comes with an extremely high chance of the Knotweed spreading as well as the cost associated with safely transporting the weed and soil to a designated landfill site. There is a duty of care required under the Environmental Protection Act (EPA) 1990 in regards to the transportation and disposal of Japanese knotweed due to its ability to spread. In summary Excavation & Removal should only be used as an absolute final option.

Trying to remove Knotweed yourself or using anyone who doesn’t have the qualifications and expertise of using the controlled chemicals needed will result in it spreading to other parts of the soil which were previously unaffected. The correct knotweed plan and treatment package needs to be carried out by a Knotweed specialist like Green Leaf Remediation & Removal to successfully control and remove it.

We are qualified to carry out and produce full Japanese Knotweed Management Plans (JKMP). This is a detailed document which details how we as the contractor will use the appropriate method of treatment to control or remove the Knotweed at your property or site. The plan includes information relating to the severity of contamination, an evaluation of the control and removal options available to you, a detailed assessment of the risks associated with any control methods and advice on biosecurity. We update the JKMP annually following treatment & evaluation.

We provide JKMP’s for residential properties, development plots that are subject to housing construction and large-scale development projects. A JKMP is normally required if you are applying for a mortgage on a property where there is evidence of or nearby Japanese Knotweed. Our JKMP’s are also supplemented with a 10-year Insurance Backed Guarantee (IBG). The JKMP ‘stays’ with the property for any future sales and this will support any sales of your property in the future. The JKMP becomes the property of the new owner irrespective of how many times the property exchanges hands.

Contact us on 0117 321 7799 and we will come out to your property or site and assess if Japanese Knotweed is present and can advise you of the best course of action before it spreads on your property, neighbouring properties or into the wild.

Is Knotweed Poisonous to Dogs, Cats and Humans?

Essentially, Japanese Knotweed is not poisonous and harmful to dogs, cats, people or any other animals like some other extremely invasive plants. It isn’t harmful to touch, nevertheless, you should employ extreme care when in close proximity to it to avoid unintentionally allowing it to spread.

Japanese Knotweed is often referred to as ‘poisonous’ by developers and homeowners due to its highly invasive growth, ability to spread from a tiny particle and just how difficult it is to eliminate fully.

Some of the Knotweed Myths

• 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 it. is solid then Knotweed won’t be able to grow through it and destabilise solid foundations, this makes it highly unlikely to cause structural damage if this is the case.

If foundations or concrete are old, poorly built and have pre-existing cracks or fractures then Knotweed will unquestionably make use of any weak spot in its quest for light and water and will swiftly establish itself, whilst exacerbating the initial crack and perhaps cause the structure to become unstable.

You should always use the expertise of a Japanese Knotweed Specialist to identify if it is Knotweed and advise you of the best control and removal method depending on your property or site requirements.

Green Leaf Remediation & Removal covers the whole of the South West (including Hanham, Bristol, Bath, Cheltenham, Gloucester and further south. We also carry out contracts in the West Country, as far North as Shropshire and into the Midlands & Birmingham areas.

We are a family run, fully qualified Japanese Knotweed Certificated Surveyor (JKCS). We specialise in controlling Japanese Knotweed, other invasive plant species and ‘general nuisance weeds’ that are found in the United Kingdom for residential premises and property development sites.

We also provide professional tree services, such as pollarding, crowning, pruning, felling, through our NPTC chainsaw operators, all of whom possess a vast amount of practical experience within the forestry industry.

Our Qualifications & Accreditations

• 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 with Insurance Backed Guarantees for the work we carry out

There are lots of companies who operate within the UK weed control industry who are respectable, knowledgeable and thorough experts and these can be found on the Property Care Association website. Be aware there are also lots of companies who claim to have the experience, qualifications and accreditations to ‘eradicate’/eliminate’ Japanese Knotweed at a low cost but if they don’t have the experience and qualifications it is highly likely the Knotweed will return. Always exercise extreme caution if you think you may have Japanese Knotweed and ensure that the service provider/ business you use has the right qualifications and experience as well as adhering to the Knotweed industry codes of practice and legislation. You can find a qualified Japanese Knotweed Specialist on the Property Care Association website here.

Give us a call on 0117 321 7799 or 07531142316 and one of our experts can answer any questions you might have and can arrange a site visit to assess if you have Japanese Knotweed in Hanham or anywhere in the BS15 postcode.