Japanese Knotweed Leigh Woods (BS8) – Treatment by Industry Experts – Green Leaf Remediation & Removal
Do you think you may have Japanese Knotweed Leigh Woods?
Have you known neighbours to have Knotweed?
Have you read online how it’s going to cost you £1,000’s?
Are you worried it could affect your mortgage or if you want to sell your property?
Green Leaf Remediation & Removal offers professional and qualified services for the treatment and management of Japanese Knotweed in Leigh Woods (BS8) and it doesn’t cost as much as you might think.
Contact us on 0117 321 7799 or 07531142316 and one of our experts can answer any queries you may have and can arrange a site visit to assess if you have knotweed and advise you of the best removal and control options for you and your property.
Japanese Knotweed is a perennial weed that will grow and advance quickly if not treated and managed. It is a weed that suppresses other plants and flowers growing around it and its crown and rhizomes (root system) spread extensively below the ground. Its shoots die off above ground during the winter and re-emerge above ground again at the end of springtime, early summer season. Any established shoots can grow over 9ft high and can colonize the soil within a few years.
There is lots of information around which indicates you can kill knotweed roots with certain chemicals, however, you’ll need an NPTC qualified person to apply any chemical substance as a result of new legislation which covers the management, and removal of Knotweed. Trying to remove Knotweed yourself without the advice and experience of a specialist will result in it spreading further so always be very careful to use a qualified expert like ourselves. We have years of experience in the industry and will advise you of the best treatment and control method depending on your property, needs and location.
In the peak of its growing season, approximately 60% of the Knotweeds roots are below ground making removal extremely difficult, it spreads wildly from one tiny fragment of crown or rhizome and this alone makes its removal very difficult. Removing Knotweed material without having extensive knowledge carries a high risk of distributing the plant to other areas of the soil which were previously unaffected.
Knotweed Leigh Woods (Bristol BS8) Removal & Control Methods
There are different Knotweed Removal methods and a Knotweed Specialist like ourselves will be able to advise you of the best and most effective procedure for you and your circumstances.
Stem-Injection
Stem-Injection is thought of as a low impact approach to treatment, control and removal as there is little chance of disturbing or killing the plants and flowers growing around it. The stem-injection technique is used for smaller areas of Knotweed where it has established itself amongst plants and vegetation that you want to keep. It is a technique generally used when Knotweed is close to a watercourse as there is minimal risk of the chemicals polluting the water. The method can be used in dry or inclement weather conditions and the soil cannot be disturbed following a treatment.
Foliar Spray Application
Foliar Spray Application is often used and is known as one of the most favourable control methods, along with stem injection. The process is used to manage the Knotweed over several years of growing seasons. Its use is determined by the size of the area of Knotweed as it is often sprayed 2- 3 times in the first year and once in the subsequent years. The chemical used is an Environment Agency approved herbicide and requires dry weather conditions and the soil to remain undisturbed in subsequent years in order for it to work effectively.
Weed Wiping Method
Weed Wiping Method is when the leaves of the Knotweed are wiped with a sponge that is soaked with the required herbicide. Again it is a low impact treatment and it doesn’t kill or impact the plants surrounding it, nevertheless, its use depends on the size of the area of Knotweed.
Bund/Stockpiling Method
Bund/Stockpiling Method is a combined treatment using stem- injection or foliar application, followed by the Knotweed being dug up and removed to a different location on site in which the emergence of ‘new shoots’ can be subjected to additional herbicide applications. This approach can be used on sites where you need the removal of the weed to be quick and not carried out over several seasons making it especially good for building and development sites as work can start straight away.
Cell Burial/Root Barrier Method
Cell Burial/Root Barrier Method is a treatment applied when there is adequate space on site to make a cell burial or a root barrier system to avert the significant costs of transporting the soil and waste to landfill. Cell burial buries the Knotweed waste to a minimum depth, or if encapsulated within a geomembrane 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, it is an approach frequently used for development sites when construction work has to start promptly.
Excavation & Removal Off-Site
Excavation & Removal Off-Site is a legitimate and quick control alternative that has its advantages for development sites if performed correctly, however, a great number of Knotweed Specialists aren’t advocates of it as it raises considerable logistical problems. The challenge being there is an extremely high risk of the Knotweed spreading, as well as the cost to safely transport the material to a designated and authorised landfill site. There is also considerable duty of care requirements under the Environmental Protection Act (EPA) 1990 when using this method. In summary, this method should only ever be used as an absolute last measure.
Is Japanese Knotweed Poisonous?
Japanese Knotweed is not toxic or harmful to dogs, cats, humans or any other animals like some other invasive plants can be. It is not harmful to touch, nonetheless, you should always use extreme care when close to it to prevent unintentionally allowing it to spread.
Japanese Knotweed is known as ‘poisonous’ by developers and homeowners because of its highly invasive growth, ability to spread from a tiny particle left and just how difficult it is to fully eliminate.
Common 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“
Knotweed Facts
Essentially, if previous groundwork or construction has been carried out to a sufficient standard and there are no existing cracks or damage then Knotweed will not grow through solid concrete, it won’t destabilise solid foundations and it is highly, highly unlikely to ‘cause’ structural damage.
However, there are some instances where it will grow through concrete or pipework; if foundations, concrete or pipework are old, badly built and have pre-existing cracks or fractures in them then Knotweed will take advantage of any weak spot in its quest for light and water and will rapidly establish itself, whilst exacerbating the original fracture and in these cases often causing more damage.
Why Choose South West Knotweed Leigh Woods, Bristol (BS8)?
Green Leaf Remediation & Removal Specialists covers the whole of South West, including Leigh Woods and the surrounding areas. We also carry out contracts in 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 offer a free site visit to assess if you have Knotweed present. We will advise of the best treatment, control and removal methods and provide you with a no-obligation quote. We are a family run business that offers bespoke and specialist Japanese Knotweed Services always adhering to all of the UK’s Knotweed legislations. As well as specialising in the control of Japanese Knotweed, we also offer treatment methods for other invasive plant varieties and ‘general nuisance weeds’ that are found in the UK for residential, commercial and property 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 experience within the forestry industry.
Green Leaf Remediation & Removal 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)
- Accredited Surveyor in Japanese Knotweed
- Herbicide Stem Injection
- Members of the Property Care Association
- The Control & Eradication of Japanese Knotweed Surveyor’s Training Course
- Qualified Technician (PCAQT) in Japanese Knotweed
We would advise you to always be extremely cautious and to ensure that the contractor/company you use to carry out the control services are qualified and that they comply with the industry codes of practice and all current legislation.
Call us on 0117 321 7799 or 07531142316 and one of our Knotweed Leigh Woods experts can answer any queries you may have and can arrange a site visit to assess if you have knotweed and advise you on the best removal and control options for you and the area you are in.
