One of the reasons why Japanese knotweed has become such a menace in this country is its ability to spread rapidly. These days, knotweed can be found all over the UK, from Aberdeen to Plymouth - but some places are more heavily infested than others.

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According to Merriam-Webster, the definition of a weed is as follows:

"A plant that is not valued where it is growing and is usually of vigorous growth, especially one that tends to overgrow or choke out more desirable plants."

Weeds are an annoyingly common presence in gardens all over the UK. Whether you're struggling with chickweed or dandelions, nettles or thistles, weeds can very quickly dominate your outdoor space and overwhelm your carefully-cultivated garden plants.

But what about moss? If you've ever been unlucky enough to find yourself struggling with moss on your lawn, you may have found yourself wondering: is moss a weed? And if not, what are the differences between common garden weeds and moss?

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Japanese knotweed is one of the most infamous invasive species in the UK, known for its rapid spreading and difficulty to remove.

If you’ve found yourself with Japanese Knotweed on your property, you may be researching the range of different knotweed removal services available to you; perhaps you’re even interested in finding out if it’s possible for you to remove the knotweed yourself. So, can Japanese knotweed be removed by anyone?

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Infographic Transcript:

Invasive Weeds You Might Find in Your Garden

While a lot of the plants in your garden are completely harmless, there are a few invasive species that you should keep an eye out for. Left to grow wild, invasive weeds can cause a range of problems, from growing in unwanted places, to outcompeting other species and even causing structural damage.

What makes a weed “invasive”?

Typical garden weeds are native plants that appear in unwanted places, for example in your garden’s borders. Weeds that are considered “invasive” are usually non-native species that grow in abundance, smothering native plants and creating a range of problems. If you want to eradicate invasive species from your garden, you’ll need to seek professional treatment.

Japanese Knotweed
Fallopia japonica

As far as invasive species go, Japanese knotweed is one of the most feared. It has a bad reputation for being incredibly stubborn, fast-growing, and difficult to get rid of.

What should I look out for?

• White flowers that grow in clusters
• Bamboo-like red or purple stems
• Large heart-shaped leaves

How do I get rid of it?

Since Japanese knotweed is one of the more aggressive invasive weeds, you should seek professional help immediately! Taylor Total Weed Control offer a range of treatment plans to help you get it under control.

Call 029 2039 7554 or email sales@taylortwc.co.uk now.

Himalayan Balsam
Impatiens glandulifera

Himalayan balsam may look like a pretty flower, but it tends to pop up in lots of unwanted places. Each Himalayan balsam plant can disperse up to 1000 seeds from its explosive pods in the spring / summer months. This makes it a very common invasive plant in the UK.

What should I look out for?

• Clusters of purple or pink, helmet-shaped flowers
• Explosive seed pods
• Stems up to 2.5m high

How do I get rid of it?

To treat Himalayan balsam, we would recommend pulling it up, spraying the area with an effective herbicide and disposing of the plant waste. Do not compost Himalayan balsam in your garden, or you could encourage the spread. Taylor Total Weed Control offer a range of invasive plant treatment programmes.

Call 029 2039 7554 or email sales@taylortwc.co.uk now.

Horsetail
Equisetum arvense

Horsetail is a non-flowering, evergreen invasive weed that thrives in damp conditions. It has tall green stems that make it look like a waterside grass. However, horsetail isn't a grass species at all. Rather than spreading seeds to reproduce, it spreads spores – much like ferns.

What should I look out for?

• Long, narrow stems with siliceous ridges
• Small, non-photosynthetic leaves
• Bristles on each stem segment

How do I get rid of it?

While it’s true that horsetail is an invasive weed species, it’s not very good at competing with other plants. One of the quickest ways to eradicate horsetail is to plant lots of other plants around it. Eventually the horsetail will be smothered. Contact Taylor Total Weed Control for professional help if you’re struggling to treat horsetail in your garden.

Call 029 2039 7554 or email sales@taylortwc.co.uk now.

Giant Hogweed
Heracleum mantegazzianum

Giant hogweed is an invasive plant that originated in Southern Russia. The sap that giant hogweed produces contains chemicals that can cause the skin to blister, so great care needs to be taken when handling giant hogweed in your garden.

What should I look out for?

• Thick, green stems with purple blotches
• Small flower heads in large clusters that face upwards
• Leaves with sharp, jagged edges and a hairy underside

How do I get rid of it?

As mentioned above, giant hogweed is dangerous to touch. If you suspect you have it in your garden, it’s best to seek professional help. If you do need to touch it, be sure to wear protective gloves. Contact Taylor Total Weed Control to learn about our giant hogweed treatment plans.

Call 029 2039 7554 or email sales@taylortwc.co.uk now.

Hedge Bindweed
Calystegia sepium

Hedge bindweed is a problematic species because it has deep penetrating roots that can grow up to 6ft underground. Much like Japanese knotweed, a hedge bindweed infestation can grow from small rhizome fragments in the soil. This makes it incredibly hard to get rid of once it’s established itself in your garden.

What should I look out for?

• Pure white trumpet flowers
• Thick, strong, climbing stems
• Often found choking out existing plants in hedges

How do I get rid of it?

The most effective way to get rid of hedge bindweed is to excavate the ground and remove all traces of the plant. If you don’t want to dig up your garden, you should reach out to a professional weed removal company like Taylor Total Weed Control. They can treat the plant using specialist herbicides that you won’t find in the supermarket.

Call 029 2039 7554 or email sales@taylortwc.co.uk now.

So, if you’ve been wondering which invasive plants you should keep an eye out for in your garden, we hope you’ve found this useful. If you suspect you have an invasive weed in your garden, contact Taylor Total Weed Control now!

Contact Taylor Total Weed Control >

If you have a Japanese knotweed infestation on your property, you should be extremely careful. If the infestation spreads from your land onto neighbouring land, you can be sued. 

A quick internet search will reveal a number of legal cases where people have claimed thousands of pounds after finding Japanese knotweed that had encroached on their land. To avoid a court case, you should treat Japanese knotweed on your property before it has a chance to encroach onto neighbouring land - otherwise, you'll be left to face the consequences.

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