A warning has been recently issued regarding a destructive ‘hybrid’ plant, known as Bohemian knotweed produced as a result of cross-fertilisation between Japanese knotweed and Giant knotweed.

The Property Care Association (PCA) says reports of the hybrid plants are on the rise. Also known as Hybrid knotweed, the plant could become a real concern if it gains a foothold nationally.

Dr Peter Fitzimons, group technical manager of the PCA’s Invasive Weed Control Group stated: “Bohemian knotweed, although less common, has been around for almost as long as the better-known Japanese knotweed, but is not always recognised.”

“As a result, it has remained largely below the radar, but the reason for concern is that these hybrid plants can be even more vigorous than the parent plants.”

“We also need to be alert as, in other parts of the world where Hybrid knotweed is more common, they are seeing signs of fertile seed production, known as backcrossing.”

“If so, this could be a major concern for the future as the existence of seed-producing hybrid knotweeds may enable these plants to spread even more rapidly.”

Listed under Schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act, Japanese, Giant and Hybrid knotweed are all deemed as invasive and potentially destructive plants. They are steadily becoming more of a nuisance to home and business owners up and down the country because of their ability to spread quickly via their rhizome network.

Fitzsimons added that “since the PCA formed the Invasive Weed Control Group in 2012, we’ve always maintained the position that whilst this plant is disruptive around buildings it can be brought under control using established techniques and processes.”

“However, its presence can impact on the ability to gain a mortgage and on the development cost of land. More research is needed to see what the impact is of Bohemian knotweed, but for now, we should be aware of the issue.”

If you have spotted Bohemian, Giant or Japanese knotweed near your home, and like many homeowners in the UK are worried about the potential impact these invasive plants can have on your property. Then please do not risk it and get in touch with us here at Total Weed Control.

We provide professional, effective weed control services that ensure knotweed is completely eradicated. You can find our range of knotweed treatment plans below.

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For more information on Bohemian knotweed, invasive plants or our treatment plans, then please do not hesitate to contact us today!

According to industry experts, invasive breeds of bamboo can be just as bad, if not worse than Japanese knotweed, in terms of its ability to spread underground.

In fact, invasive species of bamboo have rhizomes that can reach out up to 30 feet beneath the surface, crossing property boundaries and causing structural issues in the process.

Me Ol’ Bamboo

Bamboo has long been a well-liked plant in the UK, presenting an aesthetically pleasing option that doubles up as a barrier, with its privacy boosting properties commonly used for screening purposes.

However, new information about the plant’s intrusive qualities – particularly if left to its own devices and uncontrolled – highlights the negative impact this once beloved addition can have on your garden and your property as a whole.

Bamboo species are often referred to as 'clumpers' and 'runners', with the 'runners' (leptomorphic bamboos) being the ones people worry about due to their long 'invasive' lateral rhizomes that can give rise to structural issues and disputes with neighbours.

However, all bamboo species can and often do eventually take on a 'running' habit. The only real difference between 'clumpers' and 'runners' is how long a particular bamboo takes to start 'running'.

Bamboozling Classification

While bamboo isn’t yet categorised under the “invasive species” category, the damage it can cause to a property can be costly. Worse still, it’s natural ability to spread can also cause lead it to encroach upon adjoining properties, leading to disputes between neighbours as well.

Sadly, due to bamboo’s current official status as a supposedly non-invasive plant, there are no existing restrictions relating to bamboo. As a result, sellers are under no obligation to tell potential buyers if the plant has posed a problem in the past or is likely to pose a problem in the future.

Love Thy Neighbour

Mark Montaldo, Director of UK civil litigation firm CEL Solicitors, had this to say:

“Bamboo is a growing problem as, unlike Japanese knotweed, it’s not officially classed as an invasive species and there are currently no restrictions on planting it. Consequently, there has been an increase in the number of neighbourly disputes following the encroachment of bamboo across garden borders.

“I have acted for a number of clients who have taken legal action against their neighbour for nuisance caused as a result of a bamboo infestation where the offending party has had to pay significant removal costs and legal bills.

“Due to the increase in nuisance claims it is something that the mortgage companies are closely looking at and I wouldn’t be surprised to see them imposing lending restrictions on properties that suffer with bamboo infestations in the future.”

Weed Removal Services

As you can see, bamboo is no run-of-the-mill garden plant and can pose serious issues if left to its own devices. As such, tackling this issue early doors can be the difference between a quiet life and going to war with your neighbours down the line.

If you suspect you may be running into issues with bamboo on your property, Total Weed Control can help. We have over 15 years’ experience within the weed control game and are more than capable of chopping your bamboo woes down to size in a jiffy.

Bottom line: don’t wait to get your bamboo issues under control. Don’t delay, call Taylor Weed today and save yourself a shed load of hassle along the way.

For more information on the variety of weed removal services available from Total Weed Control, why not drop us a line today?

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At Total Weed Control, we’ve seen it all when it comes to Japanese knotweed, from minor infestations to all-out garden takeovers.

However, if you think you’ve had it bad when it comes to Japanese knotweed on your property, trust us when we say it could be a lot worse!

For the organisers of the 2012 Olympics, a widespread Japanese knotweed infestation on the chosen site of the London Games threatened the viability of the event altogether.

How so? Join us as we revisit the time when Japanese knotweed won gold and threatened the UK’s biggest sporting event of the century.

An Olympic-Sized Problem

The crown jewel of the London 2012 Olympic Games was the aptly-named, Olympic Park – home to the awesome Olympic Stadium.

Purpose-built for the 2012 Olympics, the stunning venue provided the stage for the opening and closing ceremonies, as well as multiple record-breaking performances and memorable moments throughout the event.

However, prior to the Olympics, the site itself was ravaged by Japanese knotweed. In fact, JKW covered a colossal four hectares (approximately 10 acres) of land on site and presented huge structural worries long-term.

As a result of the knotweed presence, a detailed and thorough removal plan was implemented to treat the issue, taking four years to complete and costing around £70 million of the £9.3 billion total remediation cost.

A Flowering Legacy

The investment in comprehensive removal of the knotweed problem has undoubtedly paid off and the venue has since become home to Premier League football club, West Ham United.

Additionally, the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park has also gone on to host a range of other global sporting events, such as numerous 2015 Rugby World Cup games, the 2017 World Athletics Championships and Major League Baseball fixtures in 2019.

Meanwhile, the venue itself has also hosted huge performing artists - including the likes of Guns N’ Roses, AC/DC and The Rolling Stones - none of which would have been possible, had Japanese knotweed remained at large.

Knotweed Removal Specialists

While your back garden is unlikely to play host to a global sporting event or a legendary music icon, ridding your land of Japanese knotweed can help protect your property and its future value.

At Total Weed Control, we specialise in knotweed removal and have built a reputation as one of the leading Japanese knotweed removal specialists in Wales and the West of England.

Our crack team of trained experts are fully equipped with the skills to disqualify your Japanese knotweed and leave it for dust, leaving you with a knotweed free garden that’s fit and healthy.

For more information on the professional weed killer services at Total Weed Control, why not get in touch today? Call now on 029 2039 7554 or click the button below to get in touch online and request a FREE survey.

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Highly invasive and rapidly expansive, Japanese knotweed is a problematic plant to find on any property and every effort should be made to avoid the spread of this wide-reaching weed.

However, recent reports from the Wildlife Trust provide a stark reminder that preventing the spread of Japanese knotweed can oftentimes be out of our control, particularly when heavy rainfall rears its head.

In Deep Water

According to Wildlife Trust workers and volunteers, a number of previously unaffected UK nature reserves surveyed by the organisation have now been found to contain Japanese knotweed rhizomes on site.

The discovery comes after bouts of notable flooding in Wildlife Trust areas, raising concerns that flooding issues could be contributing to the spread of the notorious plant.

A Growing Issue

Rotherham’s Woodhouse Washlands nature reserve is a prime example of this and the latest notable landscape to fall victim to the Nipponese knot.

Previously knotweed free, the site was found to have knotweed present after the nearby River Rother burst its banks following a pronounced spell of flooding. As a result of the flood, Woodhouse Washlands succumbed to 1.5 metres of surface water.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs weighed in on the situation, noting that Japanese knotweed is notorious for spreading during times of flooding and that riverbanks should be monitored after bouts of prolonged heavy rainfall.

Professional Weed Removal

While prevention is often better than a cure, as seen in the example above, even the most stringent of precautionary measures can go awry if Mother Nature has her say in the matter.

Luckily, there are still a variety of ways to defend your property, even if knotweed has wormed its way on to your land and slipped by under the radar.

For an effective solution, professional knotweed removal is the best form of attack and a great way to ensure your problem is taken care of before it gets out of hand.

Knotweed Removal Specialists

With over 15 years’ industry experience in the weed removal trade, we’ve built a reputation as one of the UK’s foremost specialists in Japanese knotweed removal.

Our team of weed whacking warriors are ready, willing and more than able to untie your knotweed issues efficiently and effectively.

If you have discovered Japanese knotweed on your property, don’t stand idly by and let your unwanted guest move in on your patch. Call Total Weed Control now and nip it in the bud today!

For more detail on Japanese knotweed removal from Total Weed Control, why not drop us a line today? Call now on 029 2039 7554 or click the button below to request a FREE Japanese knotweed survey.

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Japanese knotweed is commonly viewed as an annoying pest that can ravage your garden, cripple your house price and generally run roughshod over your property.

With such devastating effects, discovering Japanese knotweed on your property is enough to drive you to drink and have you reaching for the liquor cabinet in no time.

Luckily enough, doing so could actually help you combat your knotty invaders, as Japanese knotweed can actually be used to make a variety of adult beverages!

If you have JKW on your property, why not put your garden invader on ice today with these interesting drinks you can make with Japanese knotweed.

Japanese Knotweed Vodka

Due to its uncanny likeness, Russian vine is often wrongly mistaken for Japanese knotweed. Given the existing connection, why not take that international relationship one step further by using your JKW to make a tasty vodka?

Simply chop your knotweed shoots into inch-long chunks and place in a 1-litre jar with 75cl of vodka and 225g of sugar. Shake, seal and leave for approximately a month. Strain the mixture into a bottle using a muslin cloth and reseal for future sampling at your leisure. Nostrovia!

Japanese Knotweed Gin

Perhaps the easiest option in this blog, creating Japanese knotweed-infused gin is almost too easy NOT to try.

Japanese knotweed is often compared to rhubarb for its sharp, tart flavour. These attributes make it an excellent addition to gin that’s also complimented perfectly with traditional tonic.

To infuse your gin with the knotweed flavour, chop the JKW shoots into short 1-2cm chunks, slicing enough to fill a clip-top jar. Submerge completely with your unflavoured gin of choice and leave in a cool, dark place to infuse for at least a week before straining into a sealable bottle.

For the full, organic effect, push a chopstick through a freshly cut (and washed) shoot of knotweed to create a hollow straw and serve chilled with tonic and ice.

Japanese Knotweed Tea

If backyard booze isn’t your cup of tea, maybe this next entry will be…primarily as it’s just that – tea!

A staple of Asian culture, it should come as little surprise to hear that Japanese knotweed can indeed be used to make a hearty herbal brew that’s beneficial in numerous ways. Rich in Vitamin A and Vitamin C, JKW is also a great source of zinc, potassium, phosphorous and manganese.

Known domestically as “Itadori” tea, it’s also rich in resveratrol, which has been known to combat bad cholesterol, lower blood pressure and protect brain function. Simply bring to the boil and simmer for 20 mins before adding sugar to taste. Can also be served chilled as a refreshing ice tea.

Other Japanese Knotweed Beverages

Proving just how versatile the demonised weed can be in terms of palatable delicacies, Japanese knotweed can even be made into beer. Imagine sitting down with one of those the next time the footy is on!

Even if knotweed beer doesn’t take your fancy, you're still not out of options in terms of liquid refreshments. With Japanese knotweed, you can turn vine into vino with Japanese knotweed wine; however, these recipes are admittedly a lot less simple and require a lot more time, effort and patience to master.

Japanese Knotweed Removal

While putting any on-site Japanese knotweed to good use is a great way to make the best of a bad situation, it’s highly unlikely that you will be able to drink JKW into submission.

If you want to rid your property of Japanese knotweed altogether, it may be worth considering professional removal services.

With over 15 years’ experience, Total Weed Control is fully equipped with the knowledge and expertise to get the job done once and for all.

For further details on our Japanese knotweed removal services, why not get in touch today? Call now on 029 2039 7554 or click the button below to request a FREE weed removal survey.

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