24th - 30th May is Invasive Species Week! This entire week is dedicated to educating people about invasive plants and weeds that can crop up in urban and outdoor spaces. The aim of this week is to help homeowners and professional feel more confident about identifying & treating invasive species. 

For many people, it can be hard to determine whether the strange plants that appear in their gardens are friends or foes. While most plants that you see in the garden are perfectly harmless, there are a small group of invasive plants that can cause some real damage both structurally and financially if they're left to grow wild. 

More About Invasive Species Week >

Here at Taylor Total Weed Control, we are experts in dealing with invasive plant species including, the dreaded, Japanese knotweed. We are registered with the Property Care Association. What does that mean? Well, it means that all of our staff are qualified to deal with invasive species, that our work is completed to a high standard, and that we're keeping up to date with the latest industry developments. It's always important that you look for PCA registered specialists when you're dealing with invasive species.

Is Japanese knotweed an invasive species?

For those of you that don't know what Japanese knotweed is, it's an invasive weed that came to the UK at the end of the 19th century. Since then, the weed has spread wildly throughout the UK and can be found everywhere from railway lines to gardens and commercial plots. One of the reasons that this weed is so feared is because it can cause structural damage (by growing through walls and driveways), and it can prevent you from getting a mortgage.

Sadly, few people are able to identify Japanese knotweed when they see it, and since this is one of the fastest spreading invasive species, it has a tendency to get a lot worse very quickly. Hopefully, during Invasive Species Week, you can get to know Japanese knotweed and other invasive species a little bit better. That way, we can all work together to control the spread of these unwanted weeds.

How to identify Japanese knotweed

Japanese knotweed looks very similar to plants like bindweed, Russian vine and bamboo. For that reason, it's often incorrectly identified! Here are a few tips that can help you identify knotweed - no problem. 

• Leaves - Young leaves are a deep burgundy colour and will be furled around the asparagus-like stem of the plant. As the leaves mature, they will emerge as green love-hearts with red veins.

• Stems - The dense, woody stems of Japanese knotweed are similar to bamboo. Look for a hollow stem with malleable shoots that grow in a zig-zag pattern.

• Flowers - Japanese knotweed has small off-white leave that contrast with the burgundy around the stem.

• Rhizomes - The rhizomes or roots of a Japanese knotweed plant are bright-orange on the inside and dark brown on the outside.

Read more: Japanese knotweed identification

Despite the resources available online, you still might not be 100% sure if the weed in your garden is Japanese knotweed or not - that's okay! We have a handy feature that allows you to submit a photo of the suspect weed for our expert technicians to analyse. This means we can help you identify invasive species in your garden without even attending your property! Not sure if it's knotweed?

Submit a photo >

What should I do if I find knotweed on my property?

Finding an invasive plant species on your property is always worrying, and your instincts might tell you to panic and attack it with all the weedkiller you have in the shed. This is NOT a good idea, and it certainly won't get rid of the problem for good. As Property Care Association-registered Japanese knotweed experts, we recommend that you do the following:

• Confirm whether or not it's Japanese knotweed or another worrisome invasive species. You can use our helpful guide above, submit a photo, or request a survey from one of our professional technicians. It's better to be safe than sorry!

• When you've got confirmation that you have in fact got an invasive species like Japanese knotweed in your garden, get in touch with a removal specialist. By law, you do not have to remove an invasive species from your own property, however, you can face legal action if you allow it to spread onto neighbouring land!

Read more: Japanese Knotweed: 3 Things to Do Right Away

What should I do if my neighbour has knotweed?

Invasive species on neighbouring land can be just as concerning as invasive species on your own land! That's because plants like Japanese knotweed can spread onto your property and create damage within a matter of months. Start by reaching out to your neighbours and notifying them that you suspect they have knotweed - they might not know! Chances are, they will seek professional help to get the problem under control quickly, but if they don't and the knotweed spreads onto your land, you might be entitled to compensation. Allowing invasive species to spread onto private property is classed as a private nuisance. 

We can offer:

• Japanese knotweed monitoring programs - documenting the invasive species on your neighbour's property and monitoring the spread. 

• Formal notification letter - informing your neighbours of their legal obligation to prevent the invasive weed from spreading to your property.

If you do need to take legal action, we also offer a great expert witness service, whereby our experts will provide evidence of the knotweed dispute in court.

Read More: What to Do if Your Neighbour Has Japanese Knotweed

So there you have it, a little introduction to invasive species week and Japanese knotweed. We hope this helps you understand the problems that can come with invasive species.

As always, if you have any questions about Invasive Species Week, or if you'd like to talk to us about knotweed on your property, drop us an email at: sales@taylortwc.co.uk.

When it comes to buying a house, Japanese knotweed can really throw a spanner in the works. We've talked about the ways that Japanese knotweed can cause issues for people buying or selling houses time and time again, and it still remains a prevalent problem for homeowners across the country.

If housing surveyors find signs of Japanese knotweed on or near a property that you're interested in buying, then it can prevent you from getting a mortgage. Usually, lenders will put the application on hold until a specialist company has been contracted to deal with the problem. Of course, this can be a real pain for potential buyers who are desperate to get moved into their dream house quickly!

What is the seven-metre rule?

In a recent news report, it has come to light that lenders "informally abide" a seven-metre rule which means that if the knotweed is located more than seven metres (23ft) from your house, then you should be granted a mortgage - no problem. That being said, the lender will still want to know that you & the current owner of the property have come to an agreement about the professional removal of the knotweed. 

After all, Japanese knotweed is one of the most prevalent weeds and has a habit of spreading thick and fast. If the source of the problem is seven metres away from the house today, it could've spread onto the property within a matter of months. For that reason, it's important that both the buyer and the seller work together to find a solution to the problem. 

How can we help?

Here at Taylor Total Weed Control, we've been called countless times to assess a potential Japanese knotweed infestation at a property on the market. Sometimes, we find plants that look like Japanese knotweed (but aren't), in these circumstances, the house sale can continue without a hitch. However, if we confirm that the invasive plant is in fact knotweed, then we can provide a quote for treatment as well as a 5 or 10-year insurance-backed guarantee which will give your lenders confidence to proceed with the sale.

While you may have seen DIY methods of removing knotweed on the internet, these rarely are effective. Those that are effective, only last for a short period of time before the nasty knotweed rears its head for a second time. That's why if you're buying or selling a house with a Japanese knotweed problem, you should always seek the help of professionals.

Read More: Can You Get a Mortgage on a Property with Japanese Knotweed?

What happens when I request a survey?

If you'd like us to help you deal with a potential Japanese knotweed problem at a property you're trying to buy, you should start by requesting a survey. We will aim to attend the property within 2 working days of your enquiry (dependant on location). At this point, we will assess the knotweed and draft a report that you can take back to your mortgage lender/current homeowner. 

Whether the knotweed is on the property or seven metres away, your mortgage lender will require you to arrange a treatment program before the sale goes ahead. Luckily, we offer a few different treatment plans, all of which are reasonably priced and highly effective. Here's a brief overview of our treatment options:

• Herbicide application program - This is an affordable program that many buyers choose because it's not too invasive. If you choose this treatment, we will attend the property at regular intervals and apply specialist herbicides to the knotweed. Our herbicides are available to specialist Japanese knotweed technicians only and will effectively kill the knotweed at its source.

• Excavation and removal - If you're looking for a quick and effective way to remove the knotweed before it has chance to spread, our excavation and removal program could be the way to go. Our specialist technicians will attend the property and excavate the plant and any affected soil. We also offer a soil sifting service which means the excavated land can be placed back into the ground once the knotweed is removed. 

Request a Japanese Knotweed Survey >

If you have any questions about our Japanese knotweed treatment plans, or if you'd like to arrange a survey at a property you're trying to buy, don't hesitate to give us a call on 029 2039 7554. Alternatively, drop us an email at sales@taylortwc.co.uk and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.

A recent news report details how 4 properties were impacted by a Japanese knotweed infestation that had been left to grow wild for almost a decade. All four of the residents were living on the same street when the infestation was discovered.

The Japanese knotweed, which was over 8ft tall, had spread from neighbouring land owned by Network Rail. All four of the homes backed onto a railway line where the Japanese knotweed originated. Since Network Rail had failed to spot and treat the problem before it encroached on to neighbouring land, the four homeowners were able to file claims for compensation.

Did you know that homeowners in the UK can file claims for any Japanese knotweed encroachment that develops over 1 metre onto their land? So, don't be afraid to get in touch with your lawyers if you think your property might have been affected by this troublesome weed!

How was this case resolved? Well, the homeowners settled for a combined £42,500 in damages from Network Rail as they admitted they'd failed to maintain the railway and prevent the spread of the Japanese knotweed.

In a comment, Network Rail said, "We will always take action to manage thee plant whenever it is identified on our land and will look to work constructively with our neighbours to stop it spreading."

There are lots of areas in the southwest of the country that are affected by Japanese knotweed including Bolton, Bristol, Cardiff and Swansea. If you think you may have a Japanese knotweed problem on your land, you should seek the help of a professional removal company straight away!

Thankfully, if you're looking for a professional knotweed removal company, you're in the right place! Here at Taylor Total Weed Control, we've been treating Japanese knotweed for years, and we offer a range of different treatments to suit your circumstances.

We can even support you through your legal claim with our expert witness services! Give us a call to find out more 029 2039 7554 or check out our treatments below.

Professional Japanese Knotweed Treatments >

Read More: How to Resolve a Japanese Knotweed Dispute With Your Neigbour

One of the major costs when excavating Japanese knotweed is dealing with the contaminated soil. If you've taken a look at our Japanese knotweed removal page, you'll know that knotweed-infested soil needs to be transported and deposited at a specialist landfill site. Soil excavated from a site with a Japanese knotweed problem cannot be mixed with regular waste because there's a chance that the Japanese knotweed rhizomes will grow and spread into unwanted areas around the landfill site. 

As well as being costly, excavating large amounts of soil from a particular site can also leave the ground looking very uneven. This is a real problem if you're planning to build property or if the Japanese knotweed is in your well-kept garden. Thankfully, there's a way to minimise the costs of landfill transportation while also reducing the impact on the excavated site - our Japanese knotweed sifting service!

Our Japanese knotweed sifting service

Here at Taylor Total Weed control, we offer a sifting service that means you can remove all of the Japanese knotweed and its rhizomes from the soil that's excavated. We use a unique mobile plant that's designed to process the excavated soil thoroughly so it can be put back into the ground. 

Benefits of our Japanese knotweed sifting service

So why choose this service? Well, first and foremost, separating the Japanese knotweed debris from the contaminated soil dramatically reduces the amount of waste being taken to specialist landfill sites. Not only will this reduce the overall cost of your Japanese knotweed treatment, but it will also have less of an impact on the environment in the long run because the landfill sites won't fill up as quickly. 

Another great benefit of our Japanese knotweed sifting service is the reduced impact it will have on your premises. A lot of the time, clients have been put off the idea of excavation because they think it will make a mess of their gardens. With our sifting method, we can level the ground back out and you should be able to lay turf, plant into it and return your garden to its former glory.

Our Japanese knotweed removal services

To help you eradicate your Japanese knotweed problem quickly and efficiently, we offer a range of different knotweed treatment plans. All of which start with a FREE survey. We offer both herbicide application programs and excavation and removal plans. Our team of experts will help you choose the right treatment plan for your knotweed infestation and will get to work quickly to prevent it from spreading further. 

Japanese Knotweed Treatment Plans >            More about Japanese knotweed removal >

If you have any questions about our Japanese knotweed sifting service, or if you'd like to book your FREE survey, give us a call on 029 2039 7554.

Read More: Who Can Remove Japanese Knotweed?

Removing Japanese knotweed is not a task that should be undertaken lightly. Japanese knotweed is a fierce and unrelenting invasive species that can re-emerge from tiny particles left in the soil. For that reason, it's important that you only employ trained Japanese knotweed technicians to treat your infestation. Working with the right people, who will do a good job of killing and removing Japanese knotweed will save you time, money and heartache.

Who is responsible for treating Japanese knotweed?

The primary legislation for Japanese knotweed is 'section 14(2) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981’. This states that the person who owns the land with the Japanese knotweed infestation is responsible for preventing the spread onto neighbouring lands. It's not actually a legal obligation for you to remove the offending knotweed, however, left untreated, it will no doubt cause problems for you and neighbours later down the line. The best course of action is to have Japanese knotweed treated and removed professionally as soon as you identify it!

What's involved when treating Japanese knotweed?

Japanese knotweed can be treated in a few different ways. Most often, it's sprayed with a mixture of specialist chemicals which kills the plant above ground and the roots below ground. Then, the soil is excavated to remove any trace of knotweed.

Guidelines set out by the government suggest that anyone wanting to use specialist chemicals to treat Japanese knotweed must do the following:

• Make sure anyone spraying holds a certificate of competence for herbicide use or works under the direct supervision of a certificate holder.

• Carry out a Control of Substances Hazardous to Health assessment.

• Get permission from Natural England if the area is protected.

• Get permission from the Environment Agency if the plants are near water.

Choose companies with accreditations

If you're not sure who can remove Japanese knotweed and who can't, we'd recommend getting in touch with a professional Japanese knotweed removal company (like ourselves). Companies that specialise in Japanese knotweed removal are likely to have a number of accreditations that show they are competent in handling & removing this invasive species. 

Here at Taylor Total Weed Control, we have a number of Japanese knotweed accreditations including:

• PCA certification - which shows we follow strict standards and offer a high level of technical knowledge and skills.

• Environmental Agency - we work alongside the environmental agency to ensure that all of our 'land waste' is disposed of properly.

Take a look at our full list of accreditations here.

Professional knotweed removal service

Looking for professional Japanese knotweed removal? Look no further. We have a team of technicians who can all remove Japanese knotweed efficiently. We've been dealing with Japanese knotweed across South Wales and South West England for several years, so we're sure we can tackle your infestation. Don't waste your time with cowboy knotweed removers, stick to people who can remove Japanese knotweed properly.

Japanese Knotweed Removal >

If you have any questions about our Japanese knotweed services, or if you'd like to book a consultation, give us a call on 029 2039 7554. We look forward to hearing from you!

Read More: Do You Need a Licence to Remove Japanese Knotweed?