Japanese knotweed can be found all over the UK. Many British homeowners have had problems with this invasive plant species, but it is also abundant in the wild - on roadsides and near railway lines, for example.

What is Japanese Knotweed?

Ecologists are already employing all sorts of different tactics to get the UK's Japanese knotweed problem under control (perhaps you remember our recent blog post about the sniffer dogs who'd been trained for this purpose). But it's hard to defeat an enemy whose location is unclear, and one big hurdle in the fight against Japanese knotweed is the fact we don't know exactly how widespread the plant is.

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At Taylor Weed Control, we’ve seen it all when it comes to Japanese knotweed, from minor infestations to all-out garden takeovers.

However, if you think you’ve had it bad when it comes to Japanese knotweed on your property, trust us when we say it could be a lot worse!

For the organisers of the 2012 Olympics, a widespread Japanese knotweed infestation on the chosen site of the London Games threatened the viability of the event altogether.

How so? Join us as we revisit the time when Japanese knotweed won gold and threatened the UK’s biggest sporting event of the century.

An Olympic-Sized Problem

The crown jewel of the London 2012 Olympic Games was the aptly-named, Olympic Park – home to the awesome Olympic Stadium.

Purpose-built for the 2012 Olympics, the stunning venue provided the stage for the opening and closing ceremonies, as well as multiple record-breaking performances and memorable moments throughout the event.

However, prior to the Olympics, the site itself was ravaged by Japanese knotweed. In fact, JKW covered a colossal four hectares (approximately 10 acres) of land on site and presented huge structural worries long-term.

As a result of the knotweed presence, a detailed and thorough removal plan was implemented to treat the issue, taking four years to complete and costing around £70 million of the £9.3 billion total remediation cost.

A Flowering Legacy

The investment in comprehensive removal of the knotweed problem has undoubtedly paid off and the venue has since become home to Premier League football club, West Ham United.

Additionally, the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park has also gone on to host a range of other global sporting events, such as numerous 2015 Rugby World Cup games, the 2017 World Athletics Championships and Major League Baseball fixtures in 2019.

Meanwhile, the venue itself has also hosted huge performing artists - including the likes of Guns N’ Roses, AC/DC and The Rolling Stones - none of which would have been possible, had Japanese knotweed remained at large.

Knotweed Removal Specialists

While your back garden is unlikely to play host to a global sporting event or a legendary music icon, ridding your land of Japanese knotweed can help protect your property and its future value.

At Taylor Weed Control, we specialise in knotweed removal and have built a reputation as one of the leading Japanese knotweed removal specialists in Wales and the West of England.

Our crack team of trained experts are fully equipped with the skills to disqualify your Japanese knotweed and leave it for dust, leaving you with a knotweed free garden that’s fit and healthy.

For more information on the professional weed killer services at Taylor Weed Control, why not get in touch today? Call now on 029 2039 7554 or click the button below to get in touch online and request a FREE survey.

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Japanese knotweed has long been the worst enemy to those looking to buy and sell property in the UK, with its mere presence being enough to stop a sale dead in its tracks.

However, that could all be set to change in the near future, thanks to a pending parliamentary investigation in the works.

Parliament has urged the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to commission a new and potentially ground-breaking study on international approaches to Japanese knotweed.

“Overly Cautious”?

The news comes following a thorough examination of the latest Japanese knotweed research by the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee.

According to the examination conducted by the Committee, lenders overseas do not necessarily treat knotweed with the same degree of caution as they do domestically in the UK.

As a result of the study, the Committee voiced its concern that the UK approach was overly cautious and therefore unnecessarily damaging to homeowners and those looking to sell properties with Japanese knotweed.

Potential Impact

The House of Commons Science and Technology Committee has pitched the concept with the intent of using the results for further discussion and a subsequent more detailed report down the line.

Should the overall outcome confirm that the typical UK lender’s stance on Japanese knotweed is indeed “overly cautious”, it could potentially have a considerable impact on the property market as a result.

Suggestion Pending

Despite the prospective influence, such a study could have on the housing market and people’s attitudes to Japanese knotweed in general, it’s worth noting that the study has yet to be confirmed.

As of press time, the status of such an investigation is merely in the recommendation stage, with the Committee simply putting the concept forward to Defra as a suggestion.

As a result, ignoring Japanese knotweed and deeming it a non-issue as things stand is a not only a premature approach, it can also prove to be a short-sighted, risky and costly decision.

Knotweed Removal

Regardless of whether Japanese knotweed is ultimately deemed to be a serious issue or not, removal and treatment is undoubtedly the safest and smartest way to keep your property protected.

Horror stories of overrun gardens and infested landscapes are far from tall tales and we’ve seen first-hand just how devastating a Japanese knotweed infestation can be if left untreated.

At Taylor Weed Control, we have over 15 years of experience in the weed removal game and are fully equipped with the knowledge, expertise and tools of the trade necessary to rid your property of its unwanted garden guest, once and for all.

For more information on Japanese knotweed treatment or the variety of Japanese knotweed removal services at Taylor Weed Control, why not drop us a line today? Call now on 029 2039 7554 or get in touch online for a FREE Japanese knotweed survey.

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Japanese knotweed has once again proved to be a nationwide issue, cropping up as far north as Aberdeenshire in Scotland.

The invasive plant has become a growing concern amongst locals in the area after Japanese knotweed was discovered growing on the cliffs around Muchalls and Newtonhill.

With Muchalls and Newtonhill being two primary conservation sites in the Aberdeenshire area, the discovery of knotweed presence caused a natural concern for Aberdeenshire Council, prompting them to take immediate action.

Taking Action

The perils of untreated knotweed are well-documented, notably characterised by its ability to smother native vegetation, rock structural foundations and overthrow the local scenery.

As such, pre-emptive action was imperative in nipping the knotweed issue in the bud before it grew into a sizeable problem a began to ravage to local landscape.

Nipping it in the Bud

Recognising the potential repercussions of a delayed response, Aberdeenshire Council called in local experts to tackle the issue in a timely and effective manner.

The North East Invasive Non-Native Species project has also sought to take action by aiding the council in its efforts to fend off the invasive onslaught.

Councillor Anne Stirling of Aberdeenshire Council praised the initiative, reinforcing the importance of a proactive approach in maintaining National Heritage sites, noting the following:

“Controlling Japanese knotweed in these locations is vitally important to prevent the further spread of this invasive plant into sensitive coastal habitats.”

Japanese Knotweed Removal

While Taylor Weed Control doesn’t stretch into the jurisdiction of the Scottish Lowlands, we do offer our expertise to those within South Wales and South East England.

Both of these regions are commonly affected by Japanese knotweed and we have seen first-hand just how much damage the pesky plant can do if left to its own devices.

With over 15 years’ experience in the weed removal game and literally hundreds of knotweed jobs under our belt, there’s no-one more qualified for a knotweed knockout than our team at TWC.

If you suspect you or a neighbouring property may be harbouring an unwanted Nipponese guest, don’t wait around to take action.

Channel your inner Braveheart, free your garden from the unwanted invaders and “gie it laldy” today with Taylor Weed Control.

For more information on Japanese knotweed services from Taylor Weed Control, why not drop us a line today? Call now on 029 2039 7554 or get in touch online by clicking the button below.

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A study conducted by a team of Swansea University scientists has come across a rare Japanese knotweed hybrid near Cardiff.

The knotweed cross-breed is commonly known as Connolly’s knotweed – a blend of traditional Japanese knotweed and similar-looking plant, Russian vine.

While Connelly’s knotweed is fairly rare on UK soil, records have shown a rise in prominence of the rare plant across continental Europe.

With this emergence in South Wales comes growing concerns that Britain’s knotweed problem could get worse.

Problem Might Get Worse

The study was part of a larger investigation conducted by Swansea University College of Science conducted over the course of eight years.

The thorough examination into the knotweed problem also included the world’s largest Japanese knotweed field trial.

According to Swansea University’s Sophie Hocking, the PhD student leading the Japanese knotweed study, had this to say:

“If future climatic conditions become favourable for these seeds to germinate successfully, our Japanese knotweed problem might get worse.

A seed bank full of hybrid knotweed could mean a second wave of invasion following treatment of the initial problem.”

Take Action Early

With scientific evidence posing a grim update into the growing Japanese knotweed issue nationwide, the UK’s on-going battle with the villainous vine proves to be far from over.

While the impact of this latest discovery remains to be seen, the importance of taking eradicative action on Japanese knotweed upon discovery has never been more evident.

Early discovery and early attention can help minimise the issue and limit the damage caused by the unwelcome guest.

Knotweed Removal

If you believe you may have Japanese knotweed on your property or suspect there may be Japanese knotweed on a neighbouring property, act fast to nip the problem in the bud before it gets out of hand.

At Taylor Weed Control, we specialise in evicting Japanese knotweed from your property for good. With over 15 years’ experience in the knotweed game, our team of experts are more than capable of wiping out your weedy woes.

Our services are available across South Wales and the South West, including Cardiff and Swansea. Whether you knotweed is of the Japanese or Connelly variety, we don’t discriminate – we’ll help you say “sayonara” to your knotweed problem today.

For more information on the Japanese knotweed removal services available at Taylor Weed Control, why not drop us a line today? Call now on 029 2039 7554 or get in touch online by clicking the link below.

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