There are many laws and legislations in the UK surrounding Japanese knotweed and its management, reporting, and treatment. For your own wellbeing and of those around you, it’s best to have a firm understanding of these laws – especially if you already have a knotweed presence on your property!

Can you get in trouble with the law if you have Japanese knotweed in your garden?

No - it is not against the law to have Japanese knotweed on your property, and you are not obliged to remove the plant if you don't wish to. However, under the Wildlife and Countryside Act of 1981, you MUST NOT allow Japanese knotweed to spread into the wild. If you break this law, you may be fined up to £5,000 or even be imprisoned for up to 2 years.

Also, if there is Japanese knotweed on your property, it is your responsibility to make sure that it doesn't encroach on any neighbouring properties. Your neighbour can take legal action if they have reason to believe that you have allowed this to happen. (For more information, see What to Do If Your Neighbour Has Japanese Knotweed.)

Therefore, if you do notice Japanese knotweed is growing on your property, it is important that you put a proper treatment plan in place.

SEE ALSO: Do I Have to Report Japanese Knotweed?

Japanese Knotweed Treatment

The most effective way to treat Japanese knotweed involves the use of pesticides. If you choose this treatment method, you are bound by The Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986 to ensure that all the necessary precautions are taken to protect other human beings, animals and plant life.

No specific qualifications are required to treat Japanese knotweed on your own property; however, applying pesticides correctly can be quite difficult for a gardening novice. If the Japanese knotweed is in a high-traffic family garden or close to an open water source, it can be hard to gauge how much pesticide you can safely use.

Here at Taylor Total Weed Control, we always recommend leaving Japanese knotweed removal to the professionals. We have been dealing with this invasive plant for years, so we know how to get the job done quickly and efficiently without damaging the surrounding environment.

There are Japanese knotweed laws in place to make sure that people treating knotweed commercially have the necessary Japanese knotweed eradication certificate. Companies offering a professional knotweed removal service must be certified to use, supply and store the specialist agricultural pesticides required for effective treatment. Operatives must also be properly trained in the application of these pesticides.

If a knotweed removal company employs an individual who doesn't have the proper Japanese knotweed qualifications, that person can be supervised by a more senior member of staff (someone who does have their Japanese knotweed eradication certificate). The conditions of this require that they must remain in view and be able to hear their supervisor's instructions at all times.

Our Japanese Knotweed Qualifications

As one of the leading Japanese knotweed removal companies in South Wales, we hold a number of industry-recognised accreditations. All of our invasive species specialists are properly trained and fully qualified to deal with your knotweed while following the law.

Contact us to arrange a Japanese knotweed survey >

When it comes to gardening chores, pulling up weeds can be like pulling teeth: it’s a painful process that nobody wants to go through but is often a necessary evil that’s a means to an end.

However, like pulling teeth, doing so yourself is probably not the smartest way to go about it. Not only can it be risky but it can also result in further complications down the line.

In order to ensure you get the job done well first time, the best bet is to call in the experts. Luckily, your friendly neighbourhood weed whackers here at TWC have you covered... for weeds that is, not teeth pulling.

But there’s a lot more to de-weeding a garden than simply yanking up unsightly plants from the roots. Like any self-respecting professional, lawn care experts will also need a license to do so.

Law of the Land

In order to professionally administer weed killer, lawncare specialists must come equipped with a relevant weed killer license that permits them to do so – and with good reason.

The chemicals used can not only be harmful to the untrained but also to the environment if used incorrectly. To avoid harm to yourself, your garden or others, it’s important that whoever that your garden expert of choice is a fully licensed pro.

While you are free to use over the counter weed killer products on your own domestic land, commercial weed killing services can no longer be supplied without the relevant qualifications, following the introduction of new laws in 2015.

This is great news for prideful professionals, as it weeds out the industry cowboys; however, it’s also good news for you, the consumer. Stricter training regulations mean you get a better service and more professional treatment of your lawn if you do turn to an expert for a helping hand.

Weed Out the Competition

So, just what do you need to look out for when identifying if your chosen pro is licensed to use weed killer?

The specific qualifications your pro will need to have are in particular are the PA1 and PA6 qualifications. These are commonly known collectively as the NPTC Level 2 Award in the Safe Use of Pesticides.

In order to pass as a fully-qualified weed removal expert, your chosen expert will need to have both PA1 and PA6 certification in order to qualify as a horticultural hitman of weeds. One or the other won’t suffice, so be sure they have both sides of the equation covered.

The PA1 represents the theory side of the course – including health and safety requirements, product knowledge and legislation – while the PA6 covers the all-important practical side, providing first-hand experience of manual handling and safe pesticide use.

Once completed, the course provides a lifetime qualification for safe use of pesticides in public places. As a life-long license, there is no expiry to this certification (barring any drastic changes in regulations or chemical usage).

Grandfather Rights

To muddy up the process even further, you may stumble across the term “grandfather rights”. This is in reference to a legal loophole that allows those born before 1965 to use professional crop protection without a weed killer license.

However, since the updated laws came into effect, this loophole is no longer valid and the term has now run its course. If your lawncare professional does try to pull a fast one using the “grandfather” card, don’t be afraid to lay down the law and give them what for.

Additional Paperwork

In addition to a valid weed killer license, it’s also worth checking your lawn care professional is covered with the relevant Public Liability Insurance.

PLI covers the service provider for your compensation, should something go awry with the treatment and you need to make a claim (such as personal injury or property damage).

While this may not seem like your concern as a consumer, it’s good to know that your lawn care professional is capable of paying up should worse come to worst.

Good to Know

While often used interchangeably, there is actually a notable difference between the “pesticides” and “herbicides”. Luckily, the name tags of each provide a not-so-subtle clue as to which one is which.

Pesticides are chemicals used to control harmful insects that can destroy flowers and other vegetation. Herbicides, on the other hand, are chemicals used to treat weeds that can negatively affect and hinder the growth of vegetation. Despite the difference between the two, both are covered under the PA1 and PA6 license.

If you do decide to use weed killer on your own garden, be careful when ordering products online as some professional-grade weed killer products found online requires an equally professional applicators license. To avoid any issues, be sure to double-check before you hit the “order” button.

For safe, secure and certified weed killing services, Taylor Weed Control offers all that and then some. Our fully-licensed weed killing services are both effective and affordable, guaranteed to save your garden from any weedy worries you may have.

For more information on our lawncare and weed killing services from Taylor Weed Control, why not drop us a line today on 029 2039 7554 or click the button below to request a FREE survey.

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Japanese knotweed is a notoriously intrusive plant that can rock your property to its very foundation, damaging your home's value as well as its structural integrity.

However, you don't have to have it on your land for it to cause issues. A case of Japanese knotweed next door can be nearly as problematic as having knotweed present in your own garden.

If Japanese knotweed has been discovered on your next-door neighbour's property, the principal concern above all else is preventing the possibility of the knotweed spreading onto your property.

Luckily, we at Taylor Total Weed Control have you covered with our Japanese knotweed monitoring programme. It's tailor-made to keep your property protected in the event of neighbouring knotweed.

'Help! My neighbour has Japanese knotweed!'

From a legal perspective, your neighbour is under no legal obligation to remove or treat Japanese knotweed on their own property (although this can differ under Scottish law).

However, the moment the knotweed creeps over the threshold and into your land, it's effectively classed as a private nuisance. Once this breach has occurred, your neighbours are liable for legal action.

Naturally, taking legal action on a neighbour can lead to all sorts of social issues, and a knotweed-related neighbour dispute can easily turn into an unwanted headache for all parties. As such, it should be considered a last resort.

That being said, Japanese knotweed can spread all too easily, so it's important to keep your best interests protected. Keep potential knotweed drama to a minimum with a Japanese knotweed monitoring programme from Taylor Total Weed Control.

Japanese knotweed monitoring programmes

Japanese knotweed infestation can seriously damage the value of your property, so it's not an issue to be taken lightly. If you suspect your neighbour has Japanese knotweed next door, quick action can lead to an effective solution and minimise cost, damage and headaches along the way.

If you can't come to an amicable solution with your neighbours or they are simply denying that a problem exists, Taylor Total Weed Control's Japanese knotweed monitoring programme can provide your neighbour with documented evidence of Japanese knotweed on-site, highlighting to all involved that knotweed is indeed present.

Keeping you covered

Once we have identified the knotweed, we can inform your neighbours via an official letter of their legal obligation to deal with the issue, in order to prevent it from spreading to your property. This will include the knotweed-specific TA5 and TA6 property information forms.

After we've notified your neighbours, we can also conduct regular visits thereafter to check the development of the knotweed, whether your neighbour has taken action and, if so, how effectively have they dealt with the issue. This includes photographic evidence where necessary.

If your neighbour has neglected to take appropriate action or the treatment has proved ineffective and the knotweed does indeed spread to your property, your back is legally covered. The records of our TWC monitoring programmes will provide ample evidence that you took preventative actions to avoid such a situation arising and you are free to take action as needed.

For more details on our Japanese knotweed monitoring programme or additional advice on how to deal with Japanese knotweed next door, call Taylor Total Weed Control on 029 2039 7554.

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Even if you’re not an avid gardener, an overgrown garden can be a real eyesore for any proud homeowner.

Housing a condensed jungle in your backyard can not only be embarrassing, but it can also be a tragic waste of perfectly good space – a fact made all the more obvious when the sun is in full swing.

With the summer months now well underway, there’s no better time to revitalise your outdoor space than right now.

Make the most of your garden without even lifting a finger with comprehensive garden clearance, courtesy of Taylor Weed Control.

Why choose TWC garden clearance services?

During the summertime, a stunning outdoor space can make for the perfect venue to soak up the summer sun, play with the kids or socialise with friends and family.

However, gardens require a lot of maintenance – particularly in the summer months when grass growth is at its peak – and keeping on top of your outdoor chores can seem like a never-ending task.

Luckily, there are ways around these backyard burdens and garden clearance from Taylor Weed Control is just the trick!

Who needs garden clearance services?

Whether you're short on time, short on energy or short on patience, professional garden clearance services can be an efficient way to completely rejuvenate your garden in one fell swoop.

Meanwhile, enlisting a professional to handle your garden clearance services can also be extremely handy for the elderly and those who aren’t physically capable of clearing their garden themselves.

Simply make the call, sit back and watch your outdoor space restore and revive before your very eyes.

Garden clearance for house sales

Garden clearance is also a great way to help spruce up your external property ahead of a potential house sale.

A clear and tidy garden can be extremely attractive to a potential buyer, while it can also accentuate the size of your outdoor space, providing them with a fuller picture of the available space.

Properties that have been inherited or purchased from someone in poor health are commonly overgrown due to the inhabitant being unable to tend to the growing garden’s demands.

Meanwhile, houses that have been left for prolonged periods of time are also naturally going to be susceptible to grassy overgrowth and thriving weeds.

A good quality garden clearance service will be able to solve these growth issues in no time at all, leaving you with an outdoor space that not only looks great to you but looks even better to potential buyers.

What’s included in TWC garden clearance services?

Knowing where to start can be a tough task when it comes to garden clearance, especially when you’re faced with a mammoth task like an overgrown outdoor space that’s long been neglected.

At TWC, we’re fully equipped to handle even the most daunting of garden clearance tasks. In fact, we like nothing more than a hearty challenge from an overgrown garden in dire need of a makeover!

We have an impressive arsenal of professional equipment to keep your overgrown garden under control. This includes specialist wood chip machinery, capable of chipping trees and branches in seconds.

Our wood chip capabilities can be especially advantageous and cost-effective, particularly when you take into account the time and effort it would take to trim, bag and get rid of this woody debris if done independently.

What are you waiting for? Embrace your outdoor space today and breathe some life back into your garden with TWC garden clearance.

For more information on our garden clearance services, call 029 2039 7554 today or click the button below to request a FREE garden survey now.

Request a FREE Survey

If weeds have taken over your garden and claimed it as their own, wrestling back control can seem like a mammoth task. In today's blog, we're going to talk you through the different ways you can remove weeds from large areas with ease.

You could just bend the knee and admit defeat to your new perennial overlords, content with living out your days as a mere tenant on weedy land.

Failing that, you could fight back and give these weedy warriors a grass-kicking to remember!

If you want to learn the best ways to clear a large area of weeds, you’re in the right place. Read on for the inside track on just how to remove weeds from a large area.

SOS: Save Our Soils

Before you begin the de-weeding process, you need to ask yourself one question (besides “Do you feel lucky?”) – that being whether or not there are plants worth saving.

If the answer is “yes”, you could be limiting your options as far as widespread weed removal goes.

Weeding a large surface area can be done fairly simply; however, treating a large area without negatively affecting certain plants within that area can pose some tricky problems.

Should your patch of plight house a prized plant, you may need to remove the weeds individually to avoid killing off the crops you aren’t willing to sacrifice. In this instance, the best way to clear a large area of weeds is to carefully remove them by hand!

Have a Hoe-Down

Any experienced gardener will tell you that an essential tool for removing weeds is the humble garden hoe. These come in a variety of forms, ranging from flat wide to diamond-shaped.

For large areas, hand-sized hoes are not going to cut it, while narrow-bladed hoes – like the Warren hoe and triangular hoe – can also make a real meal of the task at hand.

Instead, opt for a larger hoe, complete with a long handle and with a wide blade, such as a standard gardening hoe, an onion hoe or an eye hoe. This will allow you to break up a wider area more efficiently. 

If there aren't too many previous plants around, grabbing a hoe to remove large clusters of weeds is a very effective way to weed a large area.  

Take Cover

Another great option for large area weed removal is to cover the area with landscape fabric. This will prevent the weeds from sourcing oxygen, smothering the weeds into submission. Old carpet and black polythene will also work just as well, although they might be a bit of an eye-sore.

While these large area weed removal methods can be effective, they can also take months to kill off the unwanted weeds and there are few gardeners who are willing to wait this long. If you still think that covering the weeds is the best way to remove weeds in large areas, you could combat the eyesore by adding chipped bark over the top to help disguise the covering.

 Professional Weed Removal

Despite the tips and hints above, perhaps the best way to remove weeds from large area lawns is to enlist professional help and call in the experts.

There’s no shame in delegating the weed duties elsewhere. After all, weeds have a nasty habit of returning; ineffective treatment can result in unsuccessful removal and recurring problems down the line.

What’s more, weed removal can be a time-consuming process at the best of times, let alone when you’re dealing with an earthy epidemic that engulfs your whole garden. Save yourself the hassle and leave it to the pros.

Here at Taylor Weed Control, our cavalry of weed-whacking warriors come equipped with the heavy-hitting artillery, packing professional equipment, industry-grade pesticides and expert knowledge on how to use them.

For weed removal that’s efficient, economical and effective, call Taylor Weed Control today on 029 2039 7554. Alternatively, drop us a line using the button below and request a FREE garden survey today!

Request a FREE Survey