Japanese knotweed may appear to die during the cold winter months, but it's probably still alive and lying dormant beneath the soil.

As the calendar cascades from shimmering summer to auburn autumn and beyond, the weather naturally starts to get colder.

In fact, as soon as the clocks go back, it's not unusual for the temperature to drop faster than a microphone at a rap battle.

While the frosty cold and bitter chill can be a stark reminder that summertime has indeed been consigned to history, it does have its perks - particularly when it comes to garden weeds.

Most garden weeds will die out during the wintertime and spend the cold months either biting the dust or kicking the bucket - either way, few tears will be shed in remembrance.

But does Japanese knotweed die off in winter as well? Let's find out...

To Have and Have Knot

Anyone unlucky enough to have fallen foul of Japanese knotweed in the first place has likely been left frustrated to the point of nausea by the relentless persistence of the wicked weed.

However, the summertime supremacy of this invasive species does recede during the winter, losing its leafy greens and taking on a far less intimidating brittle brown appearance.

While this may seem to be a welcome reprieve for gardeners, don't let this faux farewell fool you.

Battle-tested knotweed veterans will know that this is all a clever ruse, perpetrated by the pesky plant to lull you into a false sense of security.

What Lies Beneath

Though Japanese knotweed may appear to die in winter, appearances can be deceiving.

While the colour may change and the canes may recede, a death this certainly is not. Sadly, the wintertime is merely a power-nap for Japanese knotweed, and sooner or later, the plant will rear its ugly head once more.

Such a miraculous resurrection might seem almost unfathomable, but this is no miracle. Despite the frail shoots, the knotweed rhizomes remain healthy and virtually unscathed beneath the soil and merely lay dormant in the ground throughout the winter period.

As winter turns to spring, your Japanese knotweed will rise once more like a phoenix of frustration from the ashes, ready to unleash its wrath on your garden once more.

Treating Japanese Knotweed in Winter

If you have Japanese knotweed present in your garden, why not give yourself an early Christmas present and serve your unwanted guest a festive eviction notice?

At Taylor Total Weed Control, our weed-whacking warriors are armed to the teeth with an itchy trigger finger to match - they're ready, willing and able to blow your knotty no-goodnik to smithereens.

With over 15 years of experience in the weed removal game, we have the power to banish the vexatious vine from whence it came. All you have to do is ask!

Request a FREE Japanese knotweed survey

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.

Get in Touch

House hunters are being urged to exercise extra caution this winter as signs of Japanese knotweed become less obvious and increasingly difficult to detect to the untrained eye.

As the seasons take a turn and the autumn/winter cold takes hold, the pesky plant begins to recede into dormancy and retreat from obvious view, making it easy to overlook.

For those looking to buy a house during this time, the increased inconspicuousness can lead to a property purchase that soon becomes a big regret.

Worrying Statistics

While it’s a legal requirement for homeowners to inform potential buyers of any Japanese knotweed present on their property, that fact doesn’t stop everyone from trying to pull the wool over the eyes of would-be buyers.

In fact, a recent survey conducted by online market research and data analytics firm, YouGov, showed that a worrying 4% of those selling a property with JKW would attempt to cover it up it hopes of securing a sale and avoiding devaluing their property.

This statistic isn’t helped by the further YouGov study that revealed that just 19% of Brits could identify Japanese knotweed when faced with the plant. Meanwhile, this fact can be made even worse when a dishonest seller is actively trying to hide the problem.

Notable Impact

The figures once again highlight the increasingly notable impact that Japanese knotweed infestations are having on the housing market, affecting both those looking to sell their properties and those looking to buy.

Nevertheless, such knotweed nightmares shouldn’t be a total deal-breaker when it comes to purchasing a property. A professional treatment plan can actively knock the issue on the head and see any housing horror stories put to bed like a naughty child.

Professional Treatment

If you’re considering buying a property with Japanese knotweed, any weedy worries you may have can be fixed and put to rest with our team of professional experts, dedicated to soil refinery and ready to get to the root of the problem.

At Taylor Weed Control, we have over 15 years’ experience battling Japanese knotweed tooth and nail (or, more accurately, shoot and root) and have the art of knotweed warfare down to a sweet science.

Not only are we registered with the Property Care Association and report to the Royal Institute for Chartered Surveyors, our services also come with Japanese knotweed insurance that ensures the terms of treatment are upheld no matter what.

For more information on our Japanese knotweed removal services or tips on how to detect any knotweed present on your potential purchase, why not drop us a line today? Call now on 029 2039 7554 or get in touch online by clicking the button below.

Contact Us

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.

Get in Touch

Over the last month, it’s come to light that the Environmental Agency and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) have come up with a helpful and proactive way of tackling the growing Japanese knotweed problem in the UK.

As part of a conscious effort to monitor and reduce the implications of Japanese knotweed across the country, the EA and DEFRA have suggested the implementation of a national database to track the plants reach and whereabouts, as well as monitoring its subsequent effects on house prices.

Plant Tracking

The move comes as a result of findings reported by the Science and Technology Committee, highlighting the impact the invasive plant can have on properties across the UK.

However, this latest step isn’t the first time the Environmental Agency’s first foray into Japanese knotweed monitoring territory.

The Environment Agency had previously attempted to track the reach of the naughty knot with its PlantTracker app, commissioned back in 2012.

The original app aimed to utilise crowd-sourcing as a means of creating a national database; however, it was removed from due to funding issues and development problems.

Mapping it Out

While other independent companies have attempted to chart the knotweed problem in recent years, this new government-led initiative could well be the comprehensive map the general public has needed.

The Environment Agency is set to consult with major national Japanese knotweed removal firms to explore the practicalities of assembling a database and assimilate how these third parties could contribute.

The government has confirmed that the EA will meet with both the Property Care Association and Invasive Non-Native Specialists Association (INNSA) to begin this process in early autumn 2019.

As part of the government’s deep-dive into the Japanese knotweed issue, the EA and DEFRA aim to look into the issue extensively over the coming months, with their findings set to be published by March 2020.

Japanese Knotweed Treatment

While the move by the government is reassuring news for the future of (or lack thereof) of Japanese knotweed in the UK, the process is still likely to be a slow and laborious one that’s of little help to anyone already plighted by the wicked weed.

If you are currently suffering from the ill-effects of Japanese knotweed or believe your property may well be under invasion from the Asian vegetation, why not drop us a line today?

Our team of experts have over 15 years’ experience in weed removal and are the premier Japanese knotweed specialists in Wales and the West.

Stop your horticultural headaches before they become a viny migraine by nipping it in the bud today, courtesy of Taylor Weed Control.

For more information on Japanese knotweed removal service from Taylor Weed Control, call 029 2039 7554 now to speak to our team or click the button below to request a FREE knotweed survey.

Request a FREE Survey