Not all weeds are created equally, some need extra special attention. Unfortunately, Japanese knotweed is one of those 'special attention' weeds and if you find it on your property then it's vital that you deal with the problem quickly. There are lots of different approaches to eradicating Japanese knotweed, some are more drastic than others! Burning and backyard excavation can be quite intimidating to people, especially if the knotweed is located close to their homes or businesses, so people often seek alternatives.

One method of treating Japanese knotweed that doesn't require any digging or burning is covering it to choke it out. By depriving any living shoots of water and sunlight, they should die... right?

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If you have Japanese knotweed on your land, you're not obliged to destroy it, but it is your responsibility to ensure that this invasive weed doesn't spread to anybody else's property. Should the plant spread on your watch, you may find yourself liable from a legal standpoint.

So what happens when there's Japanese knotweed on land adjoining yours? Should you just sit back and relax, safe in the knowledge that you'll be entitled to compensation if the owner of the neighbouring plot allows their knotweed to encroach on your property?

Well, that's not what we recommend. Far better to take action now and make sure you're covered if the knotweed next door becomes your problem as well.

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If you've found Japanese knotweed on your property, it's important you get rid of it quickly and efficiently. Leaving knotweed for weeks or months can have a detrimental impact on your property, and even lead to disputes with neighbours!

Of course, there's more than one way to tackle Japanese knotweed, and some ways are better than others. In today's blog, we'll take a look at the best way to get rid of Japanese knotweed.

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Have you spotted Japanese knotweed on your property and are worried you may be breaking the law by doing so? Well, don't worry, because it IS NOT a criminal offence to have Japanese knotweed on your property.

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During the autumn months, the majority of weeds and plants begin to die out and wilt with Japanese knotweed being no different. If you believe you have an infestation of knotweed on or near your property but are unsure and need confirmation, read on some tips on how to correctly identify Japanese knotweed in the autumn months. 

Photo by Kenneth Allen

Identifying Japanese knotweed in the autumn 

When trying to identify Japanese knotweed in autumn, there are a few things you should be on the lookout for: 

• A very dense cluster of bamboo stems with a lot of foliage 
• Plants that are approximately 2-3 meters high 
• Leaves that are starting to turn yellow and are wilting 
• Hollow bamboo-like stems that are beginning to turn from a reddish-brown into a darker shade of brown 
• Leaves will contain a distinctive zigzag pattern on the stems 
• The leaves will also have a distinctive heart-shape with a pointed tip and straightened edge
• During late autumn the canes will begin to die off and the plant becomes dormant

During the autumn months, Japanese knotweed will look similar to that in late summer, so shouldn't be too hard to identify. During these months, however, Japanese knotweed begins to flower where nearly all of the plant's resources are transferred to its rhizomes, causing it to grow significantly. This presents the optimal time to treat and reduce further rhizome growth.

Japanese knotweed treatment in autumn 

If you're interested in how we work to treat Japanese knotweed during the autumn, take a look at our handy infographic below!

Do you require more information on Japanese knotweed during the autumn? Please feel free to get in touch with the Total Weed Control team today by filling out the form below - we'd be more than happy to help you out!