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 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

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 Total 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.

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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 Total 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 Total 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.

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Recent research has uncovered some insightful stats regarding the Japanese knotweed hotspots in the UK, which could pose a worry to homeowners in Wales and the West. It has been revealed that the most serious Japanese knotweed hotspots reside along the west coast.

Japanese knotweed can make selling a property more difficult, but a PCA-recognised Japanese knotweed control programme (supported by a ten year insurance-backed company guarantee) removes a lot of the concerns and makes it a lot easier.

Whether you're a homeowner or an estate agent, here are some tips to help you deal with this invasive plant and sell the affected property.

First, make sure it actually IS Japanese knotweed.

If you think there's Japanese knotweed on a property you're trying to sell, your first course of action should be to call an expert.

Note that Japanese knotweed looks quite similar to a number of other plants and weeds - including bindweed, Russian vine, broadleaf dock and ground elder, so we recommend contacting a Japanese knotweed specialist and asking them to carry out a survey of your property.

An experienced professional will be able to confirm whether or not you have a Japanese knotweed problem and advise you on what to do next.

READ MORE: How to Identify Japanese Knotweed

Declare the knotweed presence

Japanese knotweed isn't technically classified as a 'notifiable weed', but since 2013, the Law Society's TA6 form includes a specific question on the subject of Japanese knotweed. Failure to disclose information relating to a knotweed infestation on your property can be deemed a breach of Consumer Protection Rights regulations.

Naturally, such a transgression can have legal ramifications, providing solid grounds for misrepresentation and potentially leaving you open to a lawsuit. So it's best to be honest and upfront about the issue during the entire selling process.

Insurance backed guarantee

If it turns out that you do indeed have Japanese knotweed on your property, it's important to take action as soon as possible. The longer you leave it, the worse the knotweed infestation will get.

Mortgage lenders can be extremely hesitant to lend the full amount if a property has Japanese knotweed. However, lenders can be persuaded - you just need to take a proactive approach.

We recommend finding a Japanese knotweed removal specialist who offers a knotweed insurance backed guarantee, i.e. a warranty that will safeguard you in the event that the infestation should return after treatment.

If you can demonstrate that appropriate removal measures have been implemented, this will potentially convince mortgage lenders to overlook the fact that you have Japanese knotweed on your property (or at last lead them to be more sympathetic to your situation).

READ MORE: Mortgages & Japanese Knotweed

Don't expect a quick fix

Japanese knotweed control can be a lengthy process - several visits will be required, and a complete course of treatment often takes around three years. If you want to maximise your home's value, you may want to refrain from selling until after your knotweed problem has been eradicated.

That being said, if you really are in a rush to sell your house despite the presence of Japanese knotweed, you may be forced to take a hit on the sale price in exchange for speed of the sale. This might mean that lenders are put off, in which case you'll have to take the cash buyer route; as a result, you could see the sale price drop by up to 20% below market value.

Call the professional

Essentially, if you're serious about selling a house that has Japanese knotweed (and you don't fancy dealing with a lawsuit or slashing your sale price), your best option is to call in the pros and get to the root of the problem.

Here at Total Weed Control, we specialise in Japanese knotweed removal and have over 15 years' experience under our belts. For a long-term solution with an insurance-backed guarantee, Japanese knotweed removal from Total Weed Control is the smart choice for you and your property.

Contact us to request a FREE survey