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 >

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!

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Transcript: How to Prevent Japanese Knotweed from Spreading

If you think there is a risk of Japanese knotweed on your property it is ABSOLUTELY VITAL that you prevent it from spreading into neighbouring gardens and beyond! Failure to prevent Japanese knotweed from spreading can lead to:

• Prosecution and a fine of up to £5,000!
• Extensive damage to your property
• Difficulties trying to sell your home

How does Japanese Knotweed Spread?

Japanese knotweed has a reputation for being incredibly persistent. It tends to find a way around most conventional methods of weed control, so special care has to be taken to control or remove it properly before it spreads. Any movement of the Japanese knotweed rhizomes, even tiny fractions in the soil, can lead to it spreading. So how does Japanese knotweed spread? Does it spread in more than one way? And what can you do to prevent the spread?

It commonly spreads if:

• You use infested top soil on your lawn
• You allow contaminated vehicles onto your property
• You leave early signs untreated

Scientific research has shown that as little as 0.7 grams of Japanese knotweed rhizome can be enough to create a new plant, that's why preventing Japanese knotweed from spreading is so hard! Here are a few ways you can prevent Japanese knotweed from spreading, follow these steps to help control the spread of Japanese knotweed. 

Solution:

• Always buy your top soil from a reputable supplier
• Brush or jet wash contaminated vehicles before leaving an infested area
• Treat early signs of Japanese knotweed right away!

Spotted Japanese Knotweed on Your Property?

Here’s How to Deal With it:

Burn it

1. Dig up as much of the Japanese knotweed as you can.
2. Leave the Japanese knotweed canes to dry out.
3. Burn them!
4. Dispose of remains properly – rhizomes may survive the burning process.

Bury it

1. Dig up as much of the Japanese knotweed as you can
2. Cover it in a root barrier membrane so that it won’t be able to re-establish underground.
3. Choose an area of your own land to bury the remains.
4. Dig a hole at least 5m deep & bury.

Leave it to the Experts!

1. Head to taylor-weed-control.co.uk/japanese-knotweed-removal.
2. Request a FREE lawn survey & speak to our team about your Japanese knotweed problem.
3. Arrange a date for us to attend your property.
4. Sit back, relax & let us do the rest!

To prevent Japanese knotweed from spreading you need to treat it sooner rather than later! Our Japanese knotweed team have over 15-years of experience in preventing Japanese knotweed from spreading – call Taylor Weed Control on 029 2039 7554 today!

For more information on how to prevent Japanese knotweed from spreading, hit the button below now and get in touch for a FREE survey.

Request a FREE Survey

Any keen gardeners will have heard about Japanese knotweed supposedly having the ability to break through strong, impermeable materials like concrete. Can Japanese knotweed actually grow through concrete? Well, not exactly...

Japanese knotweed is one of the most relentless plants that will happily invade and spread through your garden, causing lots of damage as it goes. But, it's not strong enough to force its way through solid concrete slabs or walls.

That being said... Japanese knotweed is notorious for finding its way through small cracks and holes making it appear as though it has broken through all kinds of stony surfaces on its own!

The root of the problem:

Like any other plant, Japanese knotweed needs sunlight and water to grow. This means that it will take advantage of any crack or hole big enough to fit a trickle of water or a ray of sunshine down! Japanese knotweed's complex root system will send new shoots out to all of these available places, which is why our problem with this weed is so widespread. 

Getting rid of Japanese knotweed:

Unfortunately, most people's efforts to eradicate the plant themselves do not work, simply because destroying the visible plant will barely impact the complex root system underground. To tackle Japanese knotweed efficiently, you really need an expert team to deal with the weed.

Here at Taylor Weed Control, we have years of experience dealing with Japanese knotweed all over South Wales - so we're sure we can help you! Read more about our Japanese knotweed removal service here:

Japanese Knotweed Removal >

Identifying Japanese knotweed can be a challenge on its own, you may have noticed some pesky weeds poking up through the paving around your garden. If you're not sure what they are, or how to get rid of them properly, contact us for a FREE lawn survey!

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What is Himalayan balsam?

Himalayan Balsam is an invasive plant with easily identifiable pink or white heart-shaped flowers, that was introduced to the UK in 1839. If you've ever wandered along a riverbank, pond or lake, we guarantee you will have seen it at least once! Himalayan balsam is a fairly common and widespread weed nowadays!

The reason it's able to flourish as much as is it does is because it can survive in low-level light conditions where other plants would struggle. Generally, Himalayan balsam grows to just over 2 metres tall and can be seen flowering in the middle and end of summer.  When the seeds are ready, the Himalayan balsam's seed pods explode violently, dispersing over 800 seeds per plant, no wonder we have such a rapidly expanding problem!

How can I get rid of it?

If you want to try and control the Himalayan balsam yourself you can try cutting the plant back or pulling it up before it has a chance to seed. Of course, with Himalayan balsam growing incredibly tall and in difficult to reach places, this method can be time-consuming and often ineffective. Using this method, you'll be lucky if it takes no fewer than three years to completely get rid of the Himalayan balsam!

If you need to use something that's much more likely to eradicate the problem quickly, weedkiller is the route to take. You could opt for a contact weedkiller which is applied directly to the weeds and is unlikely to harm other plants around the Himalayan balsam. Residual weed killers are less precise and can remain in the soil for a couple of weeks after you apply them.

Because Himalayan balsam tends to grow in wet areas, special care needs to be taken when you apply any kind of weedkiller. If any weedkiller leaks into the water accidentally, it may pose a health and safety risk! Generally, the best way to choose a suitable weedkiller is to take some time to read the bottle before purchasing.

Contact Taylor Weed Control

If you don't have the time (or will power) to browse the entire weedkiller aisle to deal with your Himalayan balsam problem, why not leave it to the professionals? 

Here at Taylor Weed Control, we can help you eliminate the Himalayan balsam in no time! We use techniques and weedkillers only available to industry professionals. click the button below to fill in our enquiry form, and we'll be in contact soon!

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