If you've ever come across this plant on your property, it's likely that your heart skipped a beat. Japanese knotweed is painted as a super-human, building-destroying monster that will cause chaos and destruction wherever it grows. But is that really the case?

A lot of the articles you read online about Japanese knotweed has been designed to scare you. While it is true that you should take immediate action if you find Japanese knotweed in your garden, it's not something that you should lose sleep over. In this blog, we're going to address some of the most common myths about Japanese knotweed so you can separate fact from fiction.

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Please note: this blog post is regularly update to reflect the most recent Japanese knotweed guidance

When Japanese knotweed was first introduced into the UK, it was used as an exciting and exotic ornamental plant. As knotweed spread and people began to realise the potential damage it could do, attitudes towards the plant began to change, with knotweed eventually finding itself criminalised in the Wildlife and Countryside Act of 1981.

Our understanding of Japanese knotweed as a plant is constantly changing and evolving, which is why the official guidance for dealing with knotweed is also regularly updated too. The most recent update from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) was published on Wednesday 23^rd March 2022, regarding Japanese knotweed and residential properties.

The Property Care Association has also published updated guidance for professional valuers and surveyors in light of the new RICS Japanese knotweed guidance.

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While it's true that Japanese knotweed is a hardy plant that can grow pretty much anywhere, there are some conditions that it prefers. In general, Japanese knotweed likes to grow in damp areas with full sun, which is often why it's found along river banks and around the perimeter of woodlands.

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As well as damaging brickwork to causing arguments with the neighbour, Japanese knotweed can have lots of detrimental impacts on your property. Left untreated it can make your home difficult to sell and can cause lasting damage. You might be wondering whether or not Japanese knotweed will affect your home insurance, which is a sensible question if you're a concerned homeowner. In this blog, we'll explain exactly how Japanese knotweed can affect your home insurance.

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Researchers at Leiden University’s Biology Institute have discovered that Japanese leaf fleas can be used to tackle Japanese knotweed. The breakthrough research took place on a cycle path in Amsterdam Zuid and demonstrated how a natural predator of Japanese knotweed could be an effective way to control the growth of the weed.

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