Japanese Knotweed Mangotsfield

From Green Leaf Remediation & Removal Specialists

• • • Expert Treatment and Control for Japanese Knotweed Mangotsfield
    • Do you think you might have knotweed at your property?
    • Have you read somewhere how it will cost you £1,000’s?
    • Have you been told that it might have an impact on your mortgage or the potential to sell your property?

Please do not worry, Green Leaf Remediation & Removal Services provides expert services for the treatment and management of Knotweed in Mangotsfield and throughout BS16 and be reassured this doesn’t cost as much as you may be thinking.

What is Japanese Knotweed?

1. Japanese Knotweed is a perennial weed that will grow and advance quickly if not managed. It is a weed that suppresses all other plants growing close due to its crown and rhizomes (root system) which spreads extensively underground.
2. Its shoots die off above ground in the winter and will re-emerge above ground again in the late springtime, early summer. Any established shoots can grow in excess of 10ft high and they will colonize the soil within a few years. There are many articles that say you can eliminate the roots with chemical substances and bleach, however, you always need to use an NPTC qualified business to make use of any chemical substances and this is as a result of new legislation which covers the management and removal of Knotweed.
3. There are many myths that say it is possible to remove Knotweed yourself, however, it is an extremely hard and complicated procedure and in most cases, not successful doing it yourself. In its peak growing season, 60% of the Knotweed’s roots are below ground, making removal extremely difficult and it spreads wildly from one tiny fragment of crown or rhizome. Removing Knotweed without significant knowledge carries a very good probability of the plant spreading to other parts of the soil which were previously unaffected.

How do you remove Knotweed Mangotsfield (BS16)?

There are different methods of eliminating Knotweed and a Knotweed Specialist will be able to give you advice on the best and most effective method as it is very much dependent on the type of land and property.

Stem-Injection

A low impact way of removal and offers the minimal potential of disturbing or killing the plants growing around it. The stem-injection technique is normally used for smaller areas of Knotweed where it has established itself among plants and vegetation that you want to keep. It is a method typically applied when Knotweed is near a watercourse as the stems are injected it is unlikely the chemicals will get into the water around it. The stem-injection process can be used in dry or inclement weather conditions and the soil can not be disturbed following the treatment. Stem injection is not a method that can be used on new growth areas of Knotweed as the stems won’t be thick enough to be injected.

Foliar Spray Application

Frequently used and is one of the most favourable control methods along with stem injection. The process is used to treat Knotweed over several growing seasons and its use is determined by the size of the Knotweed area. it is usually sprayed 2-3 times in the first year and once again in the following year. The chemical used is an Environment Agency approved herbicide and requires dry weather as well as the soil to remain undisturbed in the following years in order for it to work.

Weed Wiping Method

The leaves of the weed are wiped with a sponge that is soaked with the required herbicide. It’s a low impact treatment and does not kill or disturb the foliage encircling it, however, its use depends on how big the area of knotweed is covering.

Bund/Stockpiling Method

A blended treatment using either stem-injection or foliar spray application, followed by digging up the underground material and removing it to a different location where the emergence of ‘new shoots’ are subjected to further herbicide application. This technique is normally used on sites where you need the removal of the Knotweed to be fast and not done over several seasons and is therefore particularly beneficial for building and development sites as work can proceed at once as well as you having enough space for the knotweed material to be treated again.

Cell Burial/Root Barrier Method

A treatment that is used when there is sufficient space on-site to create a cell burial or root barrier system to avoid the substantial costs of transporting the Knotweed waste to landfills. Cell burial is when the Knotweed waste is buried to a minimum depth, or if encapsulated within 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 threat of cross-boundary contamination. Again, it is a method often used for development sites when building work needs to start quickly.

Excavation & Removal Off-Site

A quick control option that has its advantages for development sites if done correctly, however, there are a great deal of Knotweeds Specialists who aren’t advocates of it as it raises considerable logistical problems. The challenges being there is a higher than normal risk of the Knotweed spreading as well as the cost to securely transport the material to a designated landfill site. There is a significant duty of care required under the Environmental Protection Act (EPA) 1990. In summary, Excavation & Removal must only be used as an absolute final option.

Is Knotweed Harmful to Dogs, Cats and People?

Japanese Knotweed isn’t toxic and harmful to dogs, cats, humans or any other animals like some other extremely invasive plants can be. It’s not harmful to touch, however, you should always be extremely careful when close to it to avoid unintentionally allowing it to spread.

Japanese Knotweed is known as ‘poisonous’ by developers and property owners because of its highly invasive growth, ability to spread from a tiny particle left and how tricky it is to control and remove.

A Bit About Knotweed Myths

1. “It will grow through solid concrete”
2. “It will destabilise foundations”
3. “It will cause structural damage”
4. “Property affected by Japanese Knotweed is not mortgageable”

In summary, if the groundwork or construction has been carried out to a satisfactory standard and is solid then Knotweed will not grow ‘through it, it doesn’t destabilise solid foundations and it is highly unlikely to ‘cause’ structural damage. These claims are somewhat deceptive, to say the least, and in many cases, totally untrue.

In some instances, if foundations or concrete are old, poorly built or have cracks or fractures in them then Knotweed will make use of any weakness in its quest for light and water and can swiftly establish itself, whilst exacerbating the original fracture and potentially causing more damage to the structure.

About Green Leaf Remediation Mangotsfield BS16

Green Leaf Remediation & Removal Specialists covers the whole of the South West including Mangotsfield and as well as carrying out contracts in the West Country, as far North as Shropshire and into the Midlands & Birmingham areas.

We are a family run business and a fully qualified Japanese Knotweed Certificated Surveyor (JKCS). We specialise in removing, managing and controlling Japanese Knotweed, other invasive plant varieties and ‘general nuisance weeds’ found in the UK both for residential premises 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 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
    • Property Care Association
    • The Control of Japanese Knotweed Surveyor’s Training Course
    • Qualified Technician (PCAQT) in Japanese Knotweed
    • Accredited Surveyor in Japanese Knotweed

There are plenty of contractors who operate within the UK Weed Control Industry that are respectable, knowledgeable and qualified professionals, however, there are businesses who claim to have the experience, qualifications and accreditations to safely remove Japanese Knotweed at a low cost who don’t. Because of this, we would advise anyone to exercise caution and to ensure that the contractor/company you decide to use are qualified to do it and they abide by the industry codes of practice.

To find out more about our services for Japanese Knotweed Mangotsfield, contact us today on 0117 321 7799 or 07531 142316 and one of our experts will answer any queries you might have and can arrange a site visit to check if you have Japanese Knotweed and if you do the most efficient way of removing and controlling it.