Japanese Knotweed Keynsham Control & Treatment by Green Leaf Remediation & Removal
Find out everything you need to know about Japanese Knotweed Keynsham and how Green Leaf Remediation & Removal can help you.
What is Japanese Knotweed?
- Japanese Knotweed is a perennial weed that grows and propagates fairly quickly if not controlled
- Japanese Knotweed can be referred to as Bamboo or Peashooters
- The weed suppresses other plants growing around it from its crown and rhizomes (root system) that spread extensively and quickly underground
- The shoots die out above ground in winter and re-emerge once more in late springtime, early summer
- Any well-established shoots can grow more than 9ft high and can colonize the soil within a few years
- There are several articles that say it is possible to kill the roots with chemicals, however, you need an NPTC qualified person to use any chemical substances due to new legislation which covers the management, and removal of Knotweed
- There are many myths that say it is possible to remove Knotweed yourself, however, it is an extremely difficult and intricate procedure and normally, not successful unless you work with a qualified knotweed professional
- In the height of the growing season, 60% of the Knotweed plants roots are below ground making removal is very difficult. It spreads wildly from one tiny fragment of crown or rhizome.
- Removing Knotweed without having extensive knowledge carries a very good chance of spreading the plant to other parts of the soil which were previously unaffected
Do you think you might have Japanese Knotweed at your property or home in Keynsham?
Have you read how it will cost you £1,000’s to remove?
Have you been told how it might affect your mortgage or the potential to sell your own home?
Do you own a construction site with Japanese Knotweed growing?
If you think you have Japanese Knotweed and you live in Keynsham then Green Leaf Remediation & Removal can help with their services for the treatment and control and be reassured it doesn’t cost as much as you might think. Contact us today on 0117 321 7799 or 07531142316 and one of our team can help and answer any questions you may have.
Common Japanese Knotweed Kayesham Frequently Asked Questions
How do you eradicate Japanese Knotweed Keynsham?
There are different methods of removing and controlling Knotweed. Green Leaf Remediation & Removal will come out to your property or site, assess if it is Knotweed and the extent of it, and advise you of the best and most efficient procedure for removal and control.
Stem-Injection
Stem Injection is a low impact way of removal and there is little likelihood of disturbing or killing the plants and vegetation growing around it. The stem injection method is used for smaller sized areas of Knotweed where it has established itself among plants and vegetation that you want to keep. It’s also an approach often applied when Knotweed is in close proximity to a watercourse as the herbicide is injected into the stems rather than covering the ground and seeping into water systems. The stem-injection technique works extremely well in dry or inclement weather conditions, however, the soil can’t be disturbed following the treatment.
Foliar Spray Application
The Foliar Spray Application is frequently used and is among the most favourable control methods as well as the stem injection process. The process is used to treat the Knotweed over several growing seasons. Depending upon the size of the area of Knotweed is it is sprayed 2-3 times in the first year and once again in the subsequent year. The chemical used is an Environment Agency approved herbicide that is sprayed onto the leaves of the weed. It needs dry weather and the soil to remain undisturbed in subsequent years to be effective.
Weed Wiping Method
Weed Wiping is when the leaves of the plant are wiped with a sponge that is soaked with the necessary herbicide. It is a low impact treatment and doesn’t kill or disturb the plants surrounding it or any waterways around it, however, its use depends on how big the area of knotweed is. It is often used instead of stem injection when the stems of the knotweed aren’t thick enough for the injection of the herbicide to be effective.
Bund / Stockpiling Method
Bund Stockpiling method is a blended treatment making use of stem-injection or foliar application and it is then dug up and safely moved to a different location where new shoots are safely subjected to an additional herbicide application. This method is used on sites where the removal of the knotweed needs to be fast and not done over several seasons and it is therefore especially good for building and development sites as work can carry on without delay.
Cell Burial / Root Barrier Method
Cell Burial or Root Barrier are treatments used if there is sufficient space on-site to create a burial of the Knotweed or utilising a root barrier process both of which avoid the significant expenses of transporting the soil and waste to landfill. Cell burial buries the Knotweed waste to a minimum depth, if it is encapsulated within a geo-membrane it can be closer to the surface of the ground. Root barrier systems can be installed both vertically and horizontally when there is a risk of cross-boundary contamination. Again, this is a method that is generally suited for development sites when building and construction need to start quickly.
Excavation & Removal Off-Site
Excavation & Removal Off-Site is a quick control option that has its advantages for development sites but it has to be done correctly and business doing it needs to have the correct licences to transport and dispose of the Knotweed. Some Knotweeds Professionals are not advocates of it as it raises considerable logistical difficulties for removal off-site. The challenges are there is a higher than normal chance of the Knotweed spreading as well as the cost to safely transport the material to a designated landfill site. There is also a duty of care required under the Environmental Protection Act (EPA) 1990 to transport and dispose of it. In conclusion, Excavation & Removal should only be used as an absolute last resort and by a Knotweed Specialist like Green Leaf Remediation & Removal.
Is Knotweed Poisonous to Dogs, Cats and Humans?
Japanese Knotweed is not poisonous and harmful to dogs, cats, humans or any other animals like some other highly invasive plants. It is not harmful to touch, however, you should always employ extreme caution when near it to prevent inadvertently allowing it to spread.
Japanese Knotweed is referred to as ‘poisonous’ by a lot of developers and property owners due to its highly invasive and quick growth pattern, its capability to spread from a tiny particle and how difficult it is to remove and control completely without the help of a Knotweed specialist.
Japanese Knotweed Keynsham Misconceptions
“It will grow through solid concrete”
“It will destabilise foundations”
“It will cause structural damage”
“Property affected by Japanese Knotweed is not mortgageable”
Japanese Knotweed Keynsham Facts
Essentially, if the previous groundwork or construction of a structure is of a satisfactory standard then Knotweed will not grow it, it cannot grow through solid concrete, it won’t destabilise solid foundations and it is highly unlikely to ‘cause’ structural damage.
There are certain situations when if the foundations or concrete are old, poorly built or have cracks or fractures in them then Knotweed will make use of any weak spots in its quest for light and water and will rapidly establish itself. This will often exacerbate the initial damager and possibly cause the structure to become unsafe.
Green Leaf Remediation & Removal Specialists covers the whole of South West including Keynsham, Bristol, Chepstow, Cheltenham, Gloucester and further South. We also work on 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 we specialise in controlling Japanese Knotweed, other invasive plants and ‘general nuisance weeds’ which are found in the UK for residential premises and property development sites.
We also provide tree and garden services, such as pollarding, crowning, pruning, felling, through our NPTC chainsaw operators, all of whom possess a vast amount of experience in 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
- Members 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 plenty of contractors who operate within the UK weed control industry who are respectable, knowledgeable and experts in the control and removal of Japanese knotweed, however, there are lots of companies who don’t have the experience, qualifications and accreditations to safely remove and control it. We would advise anyone to exercise caution and ensure the contractor/company you use to undertake the control programme are qualified to do so and comply with the industry codes of practice. You can find a list of qualified Knotweed Specialists on the Property Care Association website here.
Always Use a Japanese Knotweed Specialist Who is Qualified in Japanese Knotweed Management Plans?
A Japanese Knotweed Management Plan (JKMP) is a detailed document that shows how the contractor will use the appropriate methods of treatment bespoke to the property or site to control or remove the weed. The plan includes information relating to the severity of contamination on-site, an evaluation of control options available, a detailed assessment of the risks associated with any control methods and advice on biosecurity. The JKMP will be updated annually following treatment & evaluation.
Green Leaf Remediation & Removal provides JKMP’s for residential properties, building plots which will be subject to housing development and larger-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, prior to an agreement being made to provide funds for a property purchase. Our JKMP’s are supplemented with a 10-year Insurance Backed Guarantee (IBG). The JKMP ‘stays’ with the property, so if there is any future property transfer, the JKMP becomes the possession of the new owner irrespective of how many times the property exchanges hands.
If you think or you have Japanese Knotweed and you live in Keynsham, call us today on 0117 321 7799 or 07531142316 and one of our experts can answer any questions you may have and arrange a site visit.
