Japanese Knotweed in Long Ashton (BS41)

Treatment and Control by Knotweed Experts –

Green Leaf Remediation & Removal

• • 1. Do you think you might have Japanese Knotweed at your property in Long Ashton?
    2. Have you read how it could set you back £1,000’s?
    3. Have you been told it might impact your mortgage application or the ability to sell your home?

If you think you could have Knotweed at your property or a property you are considering buying in Long Ashton (BS41) then Japanese Knotweed experts Green Leaf Remediation & Removal will provide a professional and qualified service for the treatment and control of it at a competitive and reasonable price. We will come out to your home or business and we can quickly establish if you have Japanese Knotweed and advise you of the best and safest treatment to remove and control it.

What is Japanese Knotweed?

Japanese Knotweed is also sometimes referred to as Bamboo or Peashooters. It is a perennial weed that grows and propagates quickly if not managed, suppressing all other plants and flowers growing close to it due to its crown and rhizomes (root system) that spread extensively underground. The visual shoots above ground die off in the winter and then re-emerge above ground again in late spring and early summer. Well-established plants can grow more than 9ft high and will colonize the soil within a few years if not more quickly. There is a lot of information around that state you can kill the roots of Japanese Knotweed with chemicals, however, you need an NPTC qualified person to work with any chemical substances which are as a result of new legislation which covers the management, and removal of Japanese Knotweed safely and without the risk of it spreading even more.

Myths of Japanese Knotweed

There are many myths that say it’s possible to remove Knotweed yourself with no experience, however, it is an extremely difficult and intricate process and usually, not successful unless you work with a business that specialises in Japanese Knotweed. At the peak of its growing season, 60% of the Knotweed’s roots are underground making removal extremely difficult as well as the risk of it spreading wildly from one tiny fragment of crown or rhizome. Removing Knotweed without having the right knowledge and experience usually results in it spreading to other parts of the soil which were previously unaffected.

Misconceptions of Japanese Knotweed

There are lots of Knotweed misconceptions out there which unfortunately some contractors will use for their financial gain:

• • • “It will grow through solid concrete”
    • “It will destabilise foundations”
    • “It will cause structural damage”
    • “Property’s affected by Japanese Knotweed are not mortgageable”

Facts of Japanese Knotweed in Long Ashton (BS41)

• • • If the previous groundwork or construction has been carried out to a satisfactory standard then Knotweed does not grow through solid concrete
    • It won’t destabilise solid foundations and it is highly unlikely to ‘cause’ architectural damage if the structure is sound
    • However, if foundations or concrete of a property are old, poorly built and have pre-existing cracks or fractures within them, then Japanese
    • Knotweed will exploit any weakness in its quest for light and water, swiftly establishing itself, whilst exacerbating the initial fracture and potentially making it worse

Japanese Knotweed Long Ashton – Removal, Control & Treatment Methods

There are different methods of removing and controlling Knotweed and a qualified Knotweed Professional like Green Leaf Remediation & Removal will give you advice about the best and most effective method for your property and needs in Long Ashton.

Stem-Injection

Stem injection is a low impact way of removing and controlling this invasive weed. Using this method means there is little chance of disturbing or killing the plants growing about it and it can be used for smaller areas of Knotweed where it has established itself amongst plants and vegetation that you want to keep. This method can be used if the Knotweed infestation is close to a watercourse as the Environment Agency approved herbicide is injected into the stems meaning it doesn’t run into nearby water causing pollution. The method can be used in dry or inclement weather conditions. The soil around the Knotweed can’t be disturbed following treatment and the weed is treated over several growing seasons.

The Knotweed plants need to be established and have thick enough stems for the injection of the herbicide to be effective so younger infestations are not always suitable. The stem injection method is most effective from late summer onwards when the plant is in its flowering period and at this time offers the maximum impact.

Foliar Spray Application

The foliar spray application is often used and is among the most favourable control methods alongside the stem injection method. The technique is used to manage Knotweed over a number of growing seasons and dependent on the size of the area of Knotweed is it is normally sprayed 2-3 times in the first year and once in the subsequent years. The chemical used is an Environment Agency approved herbicide that is carefully sprayed on the weed to kill the shoots and roots, it needs dry weather as well as the soil to remain undisturbed in subsequent years in order for it to work effectively.

Again as with the stem injection method, it is not permitted when the infestation is close to a watercourse. It is not the best method to use when the Knotweed is growing amongst other plants and vegetation that you want to keep as the spray however carefully it is done will inevitably impact the plants around it. This control method is best used in late summer and has the maximum impact when the Knotweed is in its flowering stage.

Weed Wiping Method

The leaves of the plant are wiped with a sponge that is soaked with the required herbicide. It is a low impact treatment and doesn’t kill or bother the plants and foliage around it as each leaf is wiped, however, this method’s use depends on the size of the Knotweed area. This method of control can be used around a watercourse

Weed wiping is often used if the stem injection method can’t be as the stems of the knotweed aren’t thick enough for the injection of the herbicide to be effective.

Bund/Stockpiling Method

This method is a combined treatment of stem injection and foliar application. Once completed the infested soil is dug up, carefully removed and taken to a different location in which the emergence of ‘new shoots’ are then subjected to a further herbicide application. This method is used on sites where the removal of the Knotweed needs to be quick, not done over several seasons and where there is sufficient space for the Knotweed to be treated with the herbicide again, monitored and controlled. This makes it especially beneficial to building plots and development sites as work can proceed at once.

Cell Burial/Root Barrier Method

The cell burial/root barrier method is a treatment used if you have adequate space on site to make a cell burial or a root barrier system avoiding the substantial costs of transporting the infested and highly spreadable waste to landfills. Cell burial involves the Knotweed waste being dug up and buried 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 risk of cross-boundary contamination. This is an approach generally suited for development sites when construction work needs to start quickly.

Excavation & Removal Off-Site

This is a quick control option that has its advantages for development sites if performed correctly and by a qualified Knotweed specialist. Many Knotweed businesses are not advocates of this removal method as it raises significant logistical problems due to a high risk of the Knotweed spreading when digging up, and transporting to a designated landfill site all of which is costly. There is also a significant duty of care required under the Environmental Protection Act (EPA) 1990 when it comes to moving Knotweed and you have to have the required licenses to do so. Excavation & Removal off-site should only be used as an absolute last resort when it comes to a specialist advising you of your options.

Is Knotweed Harmful to Dogs, Cats and People?

Japanese Knotweed isn’t poisonous or harmful to dogs, cats, people or any other animals, unlike some other highly invasive plants. It isn’t harmful to touch, however, the likelihood of it spreading from one tiny enzyme is huge so extreme caution should be taken and a Knotweed specialist used when it comes to removal and control.

Japanese Knotweed is often termed as ‘poisonous’ by developers and homeowners because of its invasive growth, its capacity to spread from a tiny particle and how difficult it is to remove.

About Green Leaf Remediation & Removal Specialists

Green Leaf Remediation & Removal Specialists cover the whole of the South West as well as carrying out contracts in South Wales and 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 we specialise in controlling Japanese Knotweed, other invasive plant varieties and ‘general nuisance weeds’ which are found in Long Ashton, Bristol and the UK for residential premises and property development sites.

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

We are members of the Property Care Association giving you peace of mind we have the experience, expertise and qualifications to safely remove and control Japanese Knotweed at your property.

Our Qualifications & Accreditations include:

• • • 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 who are legitimate, knowledgeable and experts in their field, however, there are regrettably lots of businesses who claim to have the experience, qualifications and accreditations to ‘remove’/ ‘control’ Japanese Knotweed at low cost. You should exercise extreme caution and ensure the contractor/company you use have the qualifications, they adhere to the industry codes of practice and they have the insurance you need for them to carry out any control and removal methods.

If you think you could have Japanese Knotweed in Long Ashton, or Bristol postcode BS41 call us on 0117 321 7799 or 07531142316 and one of our experts can answer any questions you might have or will arrange a free site visit and assessment.