While Japanese knotweed is always first to grab the negative headlines when it comes to destructive garden weeds, the last month has seen a rise in cases of its often-overlooked offspring, Bohemian knotweed.

Despite being less famous than its Asian counterpart, Bohemian knotweed can be just as destructive, if not more so.

To spare your home life from this monstrosity, here’s a quick overview to help keep your property free of this horticultural horror.

What is Bohemian Knotweed?

Also known as Hybrid knotweed, the Bohemian version is the result of cross-fertilisation between Japanese knotweed and giant knotweed.

Much like the Japanese and giant varieties, Bohemian knotweed spreads rapidly through its rhizome network, with the ability to cause untold damage to buildings and residential properties.

As such, it’s important to catch it early and begin treatment as soon as its presence is detected.

Any Way the Wind Blows

While it may be lesser-known than its infamous parents, Dr Peter Fitzsimons of the PCA’s Invasive Weed Control Group notes that hybrid plants can be even more harmful than the parent plant.

Bohemian knotweed is no exception to this rule and has the potential to be a cause for concern.

“In other parts of the world where Hybrid knotweed is more common, they are seeing signs of fertile seed production,” says Fitzsimons. “The existence of seed-producing hybrid knotweeds may enable these plants to spread even more rapidly.”

Another One Bites the Dust

Much like Japanese knotweed and giant knotweed, Bohemian knotweed is listed under Schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act.

While it can be disruptive around buildings and potentially have a negative effect on mortgages and house price, it can be controlled using established techniques and processes.

At Taylor Weed Control, we specialise in weed removal and have over 15 years of industry experience. No job is too big for our team of trained weed removal specialists!

If you believe you have a knotweed problem on your property, don’t wait until it’s too late. Call Taylor Weed Control now and untangle your knotweed problem today.

For more information on knotweed removal services or to request a FREE survey, call now on 029 2039 7554 or click the button below to get in touch online.

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Okay, right off the bat let’s start by saying that there’s never a “good time” to find Japanese knotweed on your property.

A major pest of Mother Nature, this vexatious vine can wreak havoc on your homestead and cause serious structural damage from beneath the surface.

That being said, there are better times than others when it comes to treating it and keeping it under control. This blog aims to help you with just that.

So, clear your diary and save the date: it’s time to vine and dine with Japanese knotweed.

Treating Japanese Knotweed Organically

Japanese knotweed can spread through your garden like a campus cold during Freshers week. As such, quite literally nipping it in the bud can save you untold headaches down the line.

That being said, like most garden activities, there are certain times of the year that are better than others when it comes to ensuring the most effective treatment.

If you’re looking to go the non-chemical route, there are a variety of options and techniques you could explore. Here are a few suggestions along with the best times to go about it.

Pulling/Digging

For smaller populations that are new to your property and not yet made themselves at home, hand removal is a viable option during the growing season.

Break up the soil around the rhizome with a fork or shovel and haul that weed out of its freshly loosened liar.

Smothering

Smothering is a better option for larger patches of knotweed that are more well-established; however, it’s by no means a quick-fix. In fact, this technique can literally take years to achieve the desired effect.

Cut the stems as low as possible and cover with heavy-duty black plastic. If the resulting aesthetic is unsightly, cover with a further layer of mulch to mask the plastic’s appearance.

This route is most effective when implemented during the early summertime. During this period, the surrounding plants will be at the height of their growth, exhausting some of the rhizome’s reserves.

Treating Japanese Knotweed with Herbicides

If the softly, softly approach isn’t working and you’re looking for a less subtle way of banishing your knotweed nightmares from whence they came, herbicides provide the heavy artillery.

Japanese knotweed controls its nutrients in line with the seasons: during the spring and early summer, it channels its nutrients upward from the roots to the shoots, while it does the opposite during the late summer and autumn in preparation for winter.

For the best results, it’s wise to apply your herbicide at the end of the summer prior to the wintry weather kicking in, taking advantage of the natural downward flow of the plant's nutrients.

Professional Japanese Knotweed Treatment

Regardless of which option you choose, Japanese knotweed is a formidable foe and one that shouldn’t be taken lightly.

If you really are serious about giving ridding your property of knotweed in an effective manner that limits the possibility of a return, it’s wise to consider calling in the professionals.

At Taylor Weed Control, we specialise in Japanese knotweed removal and offer a wide range of services to ensure your weedy woes are stopped dead in their tracks.

With over 15 years’ experience, we’ve seen it all and lived to tell the tale – the same can’t be said for the knotweed we’ve met along the way.

For further details on the best time to control Japanese knotweed or more information on our Japanese knotweed removal services, why not get in touch today? Call now on 029 2039 7554 or click the button below to request a FREE weed removal survey.

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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 >

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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Japanese knotweed is a highly invasive plant that grows quickly and can cause significant damage to buildings, roads, and other types of infrastructure that stand in its way.

If you've discovered Japanese knotweed on your property, you're probably eager to get rid of it as soon as possible - but don't be too hasty!

It's extremely important to take care when disposing of Japanese knotweed. Under UK law, those who help the plant to spread - even accidentally - may face:

• Up to 2 years in prison
• Or a fine of up to £5,000

How to Dispose of Japanese Knotweed (Without It Spreading!) 

Japanese knotweed didn't become such a widespread problem in this country by pure coincidence. The plant's rhizome root system allows it to spread from one location to another with frightening ease - a single small root fragment can quickly grow into a whole new plant!

This is why you simply can't be too careful when disposing of Japanese knotweed. Failure to follow the law can end up fostering further knotweed growth, and frankly, this species is doing just fine for itself without any extra assistance from us. 

Japanese knotweed can't be thrown onto the compost (unless you seal it away to rot for at least 6 months before hand), and you can't take it to the tip. So, how can you dispose of Japanese knotweed safely? 

What’s the Right Way to Dispose of Japanese Knotweed?

While it's not illegal to dispose of Japanese knotweed yourself (as long as you know exactly what you're doing), it's usually preferable to hire a contractor who knows how to dispose of Japanese knotweed properly.

Broadly speaking, there are two ways to deal with Japanese knotweed, both of which are generally better left to the experts:

1. Excavation - The Japanese knotweed is dug up using heavy earth-moving machinery, then transported to a specialist landfill site with the relevant environmental permit (taking care at all times not let any contaminated soil or plant matter find its way into the wild).
   
   
2. Herbicide - Over a number of months, the Japanese knotweed is repeatedly sprayed with herbicide to control the plant's growth.

Although there are certain situations where option 1 may be preferable (e.g. if there is a tight deadline for clearing the site of Japanese knotweed), herbicide application is by far the cheaper option and is usually sufficient to prevent Japanese knotweed from causing any long-term problems.

Japanese Knotweed Removal Services From Taylor Weed Control

When it comes to Japanese knotweed, it’s best to ensure that it is removed properly first time around. This is the best way to ensure that Japanese knotweed doesn’t become a recurring issue, or you don’t accidentally get fined for it spreading. Taylor Weed Control specialises in herbicide-based Japanese knotweed control, and we offer this service throughout South Wales, the South West and beyond.

We are registered with the Property Care Association, and our reports are approved by the RICS (Royal Institute for Chartered Surveyors), so you can rely on us to handle your Japanese knotweed problem in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations.

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Last updated 5th July 2022