Japanese Knotweed Trowbridge and BA14
– Control and Treatment Experts for Japanese Knotweed Trowbridge
Do you think you have Japanese Knotweed Trowbridge?
Have you read online how it could cost you £1,000’s?
Have you been told it might have an effect on your mortgage or the potential to sell your own home?
Green Leaf Remediation & Removal offers treatment and control methods for Japanese Knotweed in Trowbridge, BA14 postcode and the surrounding areas and will come out and do a free, no-obligation site assessment to establish if it is Japanese Knotweed and offer you a competitive quote to control and remove.
About Japanese Knotweed Trowbridge
- Japanese Knotweed can sometimes be referred to as Bamboo and Peashooters
- Japanese Knotweed is a perennial weed that grows and propagates quickly if not controlled
- It suppresses other plants growing around it from its crown and rhizomes (root system) which spread quickly and extensively underground
- The shoots die out above ground in winter and re-emerge above ground again 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, be aware you will 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 extremely difficult and often not successful unless you work with a knotweed professional who has the experience and qualifications to do it safely and successfully
- In the height of the growing season, 60% of the Knotweeds roots are below ground so 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 the plant spreading to other parts of the soil which were previously unaffected
Controlling and Removing Japanese Knotweed Trowbridge (BA14)?
There are various methods of removing Japanese Knotweed / Bamboo / Peashooters and a Knotweed Specialist like Green Leaf Remediation & Removal can advise you of the best and most efficient procedure.
Stem-Injection is a low impact way of removal and control with minimal likelihood of disturbing or killing the plants growing around it. The stem injection method is used for smaller areas of Knotweed where it has established itself among other plants and vegetation you want to keep. It is an alternative to foliage spraying, which can affect and kill other nearby plants. A concentrated dose of Glyphosate Herbicide is injected into each individual cane using equipment specifically designed for the treatment and control of knotweed. This technique works extremely well in dry or inclement weather conditions and the soil can’t be disturbed following the treatment. It is also an approach often applied when Knotweed is in close proximity to a watercourse.
Foliar Spray Application is frequently used and is among the most favourable control methods along with the stem-injection method. It is a process used to treat the Knotweed over several growing seasons. Dependent upon the size of the Knotweed area is it is frequently sprayed 2-3 times in the first year and once in the subsequent years. The chemical used is an Environment Agency approved herbicide and needs dry weather and the soil to remain undisturbed in subsequent years to be effective.
Weed Wiping Method is a low impact treatment and doesn’t kill or disturb the plants surrounding it or damage any water sources, however, its use depends upon how big the area of knotweed is. The knotweed leaves are wiped with a sponge that’s soaked with the necessary herbicide. It is an alternative method to stem injection when the stems of the knotweed are not thick enough for the herbicide to be effective.
Bund/Stockpiling Method is a blended treatment that makes use of the stem injection or foliar application method. The underground material and the soil is then removed to a different location where the ‘new shoots’ can be subjected to additional herbicide application. This method can be used on sites where you need the removal of the knotweed to be fast and not done over several seasons, making it especially good for building and development sites as work can carry on without delay. You have to have a special license to carry knotweed waste and it can only be taken to an authorised site for the additional herbicide application.
Cell Burial/ Root Barrier Method is a treatment used if you have sufficient space on-site to create a cell burial plot or a root barrier system to avoid the significant expenses of transporting the soil and waste to a licensed landfill site. 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 are also installed both vertically and horizontally when there is a risk of cross-boundary contamination. Again, it is a method normally suited for development sites when building work and constriction needs to start quickly.
Excavation & Removal Off-Site is a quick control option that has its advantages for development sites if done correctly, however, a lot of Knotweed’s Industry experts aren’t advocates of it as it raises considerable logistical difficulties. There are many challenges associated with this method; there is a higher than normal chance of the Knotweed spreading as well as a significant 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 for the transportation and disposal of Japanese Knotweed. In conclusion, Excavation & Removal should only be used as an absolute last resort and is only ever used by a Knotweed Specialist if there are no other options available.
Attempting to remove Japanese Knotweed yourself, or using someone who does not have the experience and qualifications of using the right chemicals will in most cases 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 it.
If you think you might have Japanese Knotweed then contact us on 0117 321 7799. We will come out to your property or site and assess the extent of it and advise you of the best course of action before it spreads to neighbouring properties, into the wild or causes damage to your own property.
Is Knotweed Poisonous to Dogs, Cats and Humans?
Japanese Knotweed isn’t poisonous or harmful to dogs, cats, humans or any other animals like some other highly invasive plants are. It isn’t harmful to touch, however, you should always employ extreme caution when near it to prevent inadvertently allowing it to spread.
Japanese Knotweed would probably be referred to as ‘poisonous’ by developers and property owners due to its highly invasive growth, its capability to spread from a tiny particle the difficulty of removing and controlling it.
Knotweed Misconceptions
(many of which are exploited by some knotweed contractors for financial gain)
“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 is stable and to a satisfactory standard then Knotweed will not grow through solid concrete, it will not destabilise solid foundations and it is highly unlikely to ‘cause’ architectural damage. These claims are deceiving, to say the least, and in some cases, totally untrue.
In certain situations, if the foundations or concrete are old, poorly built and have pre-existing cracks or fractures, then Knotweed will make use of any weak spot in its quest for light and water and will rapidly establish itself, whilst exacerbating the initial fracture and possibly causing the structure to become unstable.
Green Leaf Remediation & Removal Specialists covers the whole of the South West (including Trowbridge, BA14, Bristol, Bath, Cheltenham, Gloucester and the wider areas). Additionally, we
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 are a family run business. 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 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
Although there are plenty of contractors who operate within the UK weed control industry who are respectable, knowledgeable and professional, there are still lots of companies who claim to have the experience, qualifications and accreditations to eradicate and eliminate’ Japanese Knotweed at a low cost. We would advise anyone who thinks they may have Japanese Knotweed in the Forest of Deam or surrounding areas to ensure the contractor or company you use are qualified to do so and that they comply with the industry codes of practice.
What is a Japanese Knotweed Management Plan?
A Japanese Knotweed Management Plan (JKMP) is a detailed document that illustrates how we as the contractor will use the appropriate methods of treatment bespoke to the property or site. 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 by us annually following treatment & evaluation.
We provide 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 also 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 have or think you may have Japanese Knotweed in Trowbridge or the BA14 postcode contact us on 0117 321 7799 or 07531142316 and one of our experts will answer any questions you might have and can arrange a site assessment visit.
