Japanese knotweed is a highly invasive plant that grows quickly and can cause significant damage to buildings, roads, and other types of infrastructure that stand in its way.

If you've discovered Japanese knotweed on your property, you're probably eager to get rid of it as soon as possible - but don't be too hasty!

It's extremely important to take care when disposing of Japanese knotweed. Under UK law, those who help the plant to spread - even accidentally - may face:

• Up to 2 years in prison
• Or a fine of up to £5,000

How to Dispose of Japanese Knotweed (Without It Spreading!) 

Japanese knotweed didn't become such a widespread problem in this country by pure coincidence. The plant's rhizome root system allows it to spread from one location to another with frightening ease - a single small root fragment can quickly grow into a whole new plant!

This is why you simply can't be too careful when disposing of Japanese knotweed. Failure to follow the law can end up fostering further knotweed growth, and frankly, this species is doing just fine for itself without any extra assistance from us. 

Japanese knotweed can't be thrown onto the compost (unless you seal it away to rot for at least 6 months before hand), and you can't take it to the tip. So, how can you dispose of Japanese knotweed safely? 

What’s the Right Way to Dispose of Japanese Knotweed?

While it's not illegal to dispose of Japanese knotweed yourself (as long as you know exactly what you're doing), it's usually preferable to hire a contractor who knows how to dispose of Japanese knotweed properly.

Broadly speaking, there are two ways to deal with Japanese knotweed, both of which are generally better left to the experts:

1. Excavation - The Japanese knotweed is dug up using heavy earth-moving machinery, then transported to a specialist landfill site with the relevant environmental permit (taking care at all times not let any contaminated soil or plant matter find its way into the wild).
   
   
2. Herbicide - Over a number of months, the Japanese knotweed is repeatedly sprayed with herbicide to control the plant's growth.

Although there are certain situations where option 1 may be preferable (e.g. if there is a tight deadline for clearing the site of Japanese knotweed), herbicide application is by far the cheaper option and is usually sufficient to prevent Japanese knotweed from causing any long-term problems.

Japanese Knotweed Removal Services From Taylor Weed Control

When it comes to Japanese knotweed, it’s best to ensure that it is removed properly first time around. This is the best way to ensure that Japanese knotweed doesn’t become a recurring issue, or you don’t accidentally get fined for it spreading. Taylor Weed Control specialises in herbicide-based Japanese knotweed control, and we offer this service throughout South Wales, the South West and beyond.

We are registered with the Property Care Association, and our reports are approved by the RICS (Royal Institute for Chartered Surveyors), so you can rely on us to handle your Japanese knotweed problem in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations.

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Last updated 5th July 2022

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.

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If you're a homeowner or an individual that has recently bought a piece of land or maybe you're planning on buying some land to build on, it's important for you to be aware of the laws and legalities surrounding planning permission and everybody's favourite beast from the east, Japanese knotweed! 

As Japanese knotweed is classed as an intrusive plant here in the UK, there are a number of laws that surround the eastern Asian plant which may impact on your ability to extend your house or build one altogether. To make things a little clearer, let's take a look at some of these laws and what impact that may or may not have on your chances of gaining planning permission.

Planning Permission with Japanese Knotweed 

For individuals considering planning permission for their property, it is essential that the checks are conducted for the presence of Japanese knotweed. If carried out and there is a suspicion that the plant is present, it is vitally important that a survey is requested by an ecological surveyor. If its presence is then confirmed, a control programme suitable for the site in which the property sits will need to be planned as part of the planning application, which includes the safe removal of the knotweed. Planning conditions to ensure the control programme is performed sufficiently should be imposed.

Planning Conditions 

Planning conditions are imposed on sites where Japanese knotweed is known to be present in order to prevent the spread of the invasive plant, which under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 is an offence. Japanese knotweed is notorious for devaluing sites, as well as causing major structural damage to any buildings which may be developed on contaminated land. A management plan will need to be put into place which contains a number of the following things:

• The objective of control action 
• An assessment of control options
• Criteria for completion 
• Advice on preventing spread around site 

So, despite all of the hysteria surrounding Japanese knotweed, planning permission is still possible if found near your property! However, a stringent and effective plan to manage it must put into place before work can be carried out. 

If you have reason to believe that Japanese knotweed is present on your premises and require experienced professionals to assess and remove it, then do not hesitate to get in touch with Taylor Total Weed Control today for our expert Japanese knotweed removal services! 

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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:

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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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In September 2018, the Independent reported that Japanese knotweed had knocked nearly £20 billion off the value of the UK property market, with an estimated 850,000-900,000 properties affected nationwide.

Why does this particular weed pose such a big problem? Well, Japanese knotweed is exceedingly difficult to get rid of. Not just because the plant's rhizome root system can sometimes burrow a full 2 metres down into the ground, but also because a tiny fragment of those roots can sprout into a whole new stem.

This allows Japanese knotweed (once beloved by UK gardeners for its resemblance to bamboo) to spread to new sites at a truly alarming rate - ironically, many attempts to destroy the weed only end up helping it to take root elsewhere!

So, if you're sat around wondering how to get rid of Japanese knotweed, the professionals here at Taylor Total Weed Control are here to help!

We don't recommend trying to remove Japanese knotweed yourself.

Japanese knotweed is recognised by British authorities as a highly invasive non-native plant, and there are certain laws in place to keep it from spreading. For example, Japanese knotweed is classed as 'controlled waste', meaning that it can only be disposed of at specially licensed landfill sites.

As mentioned above, attempting to eradicate Japanese knotweed by yourself can backfire and make the problem even worse, so it's generally wise to call in a Japanese knotweed removal specialist to assess the situation and determine the best course of action.

How to Get Rid of Japanese Knotweed Permanently

Broadly speaking, there are two ways to get rid of Japanese knotweed:

• Herbicide - Spraying the plant's leaves with herbicide is generally the most cost-effective solution. Herbicide application should take place over several years to ensure the best possible results.
  
  
• Excavation & Disposal - The other option is to use excavation machinery to dig up the affected site, after which the knotweed can be disposed of at one of the aforementioned licensed landfill sites. This is by some distance the more expensive and disruptive approach of the two, but it may be preferable if you're on a deadline.

So, when it comes to getting rid of a knotweed infestation on or near your property, you have the two above choices. Whicher you decide to use will ultimately depend on your preference in terms of time and disruption.

How we can help get rid of your Japanese knotweed infestation

Here at Taylor Total Weed Control, we provide specialist Japanese knotweed removal across South Wales and South West England that ensure any confirmed case of knotweed on or around your home is dealt with in a professional and effective manner.

So, what are you waiting for!? To get rid of your Japanese knotweed, get in touch with our expert team today before it's too late!

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