With bamboo-like stems and clusters of creamy flowers, Japanese knotweed sounds exotic. It is accepted that the distance Japanese Knotweed can spread underground is a maximum of 7m. One of the main problems is that these roots can get into weak spots or cracks in your building foundations causing damage. They have even found evidence of allelopathy (the release of chemicals that suppress the growth of other plants). It requires constant maintenance to prevent it taking over an entire garden, and is extremely difficult (and therefore expensive) to eradicate entirely. Dug up or cut down and then removed the plant from your property. How to identify Japanese knotweed.. Do you have problems with Japanese Knotweed we can help you fix the problem. NEW Online Surveyor Training: Timber & Dampness in Building, Welcome to The Property Care Association » Homeowners » Invasive Weed Control » A Guide to the Problems Caused by Japanese knotweed. Originally imported as an attractive garden plant it is now a widespread and unwelcome alien plant. It is when a plant is introduced to a new setting without these pests and diseases that they … Breach of any requirement of a Community Protection Notice, without reasonable excuse, would be a criminal offence, subject to a fixed penalty notice (which attracts a penalty of £100) or prosecution. Caused the Japanese knotweed on your property to spread into the wild. Infrastructure – Knotweed’s stout rhizomes (underground stems) are notorious for pushing through asphalt, building foundations, concrete retaining walls and even drains, causing significant damage. The Japanese Knotweed plants in Japan also have the local pests and diseases to contend with and suffer predation from a whole range of invertebrates and fungi. Do I need a Japanese knotweed site survey? Copyright © 2020 CABI. It would however be advisable to take measures to eradicate the plant, but there are no regulations forcing you to do so. Why is that such a problem? Japanese knotweed causes problems in gardens owing to its invasive nature and its habit of out-competing all plants growing nearby. It only takes one property owner to pull out and all the other properties are then put at risk. In Japan, the plant generally grows in harmony with the environment and is not considered to be invasive. It is often found around old homesteads where it may have been originally planted as an ornamental. The plant's vast root system exploits weaknesses in building foundations and drainage systems, often making buildings structurally unsound. But it holds the title of the UK's most invasive plant and has become the subject of horror stories. Giant knotweed (Fallopia sachalinensis / Reynoutria sachalinensis) is found widespread throughout the UK but is not as common as Japanese knotweed. The herbicide used is most likely to be Glyphosate and the application can only be undertaken by an appropriately certificated operative. The plan should include consideration of the options for control and an explanation as to how the recommended action was arrived at. In order to ensure that the advice and management you contract is reliable and recognised by mortgage lenders and other relevant agencies, you should contact a company which is a member of the Invasive Weed Control Group of the Property Care Association. ensure that tools, machinery and other equipment brought onto your property is clean and free from fragments of rhizome. Housing devaluation – Knotweed found on or close to a property can have an impact on its actual and perceived value. If you disposed of it elsewhere, you would have contravened the Environmental Protection Act 1990. check that any soil brought onto your property is guaranteed to be Japanese knotweed free. Business Park Japanese knotweed is not native to Europe and was introduced to the UK without its natural enemies. Over the winter the plant dies back leaving tall brown canes but as a perennial plant its top growth is renewed each year from the rhizomes which can spread relentlessly. History. A decade ago, many lenders were unwilling to lend on a property where evidence of Japanese knotweed was found, ‘on the basis that it was proving too difficult to quantify the risk to the lender’. A collaborative approach is by far the best way to deal with the matter and any costs to be shared. Japanese knotweed is not native to Europe and was introduced to the UK without its natural enemies. Other underground infrastructures are at risk, such as cabling and water pipes. Japanese Knotweed is a highly invasive plant which is extremely difficult to eradicate from land due to the fact that it spreads by its roots and stems, and can spread very rapidly. You must prevent Japanese knotweed on … Hinchingbrooke Japanese knotweed is a member of the buckwheat family. Japanese knotweed could be more effective than antibiotics at tackling the growing problem of Lyme disease. Minimise the risk of your property being invaded. | Programming Copyright © 2020 London Webmasters - All rights reserved | Legal Information and Disclaimer, A Guide to the Problems Caused by Japanese knotweed, PCA Surveyor Training for Property Professionals, Surveyor training: Timber & dampness remedial treatments, Legal Aspects – Waterproofing Surveying & Report Writing, Management of Japanese knotweed for surveyors, Evaluating Ventilation in Existing Buildings, PCA Technician Training for Property Professionals, Technician Training – Structural Waterproofing, Alternative Repair Strategies for Traditional Buildings, Condensation and Atmospheric Moisture Management in Buildings, Contracting and Client Relationship Workshop, Ground-Gas Protection: Installation & Verification, Safe Use of Biocides for Professional Users, Understanding Traditional Building Construction Principles, Training and Examinations- Terms and Conditions, How the Apprenticeship Scheme is Structured, Apprenticeship Scheme Damp & Timber Intake Dates, Surveyor & Consultant Membership Information, Invasive Weed Contractor’s Application Pack, Flood Protection Membership – Application Pack, Video Case Study: flood protection & resilience, Video: 10 steps to successful structural waterproofing projects, Logo Abuse/false claims of membership or qualifications. I noticed last year mid summer the county came through and sprayed for brush and killed the Knotweed that is off the road by the bridge adjacent to our property. On summary conviction, an individual would be liable to a level 4 fine. If you are prepared to accept the Japanese knotweed management plan and associated costs, you should be presented with a contract to agree the works with the Japanese knotweed specialist. A common occurrence is where the Japanese knotweed on your property extends into the next door neighbour’s plot or your property is free of the weed but it is within 7m of a boundary on adjacent land. In order to ensure that Japanese knotweed on your land is effectively and completely treated, you need to obtain professional advice. What is Japanese Knotweed. Fragments of rhizome get picked up in soil and on equipment. When growing adjacent to built structures such as walls and buildings, the rhizome can damage structures exploiting cracks and weaknesses as the rhizome system expands. Just like alien invasive species, Japanese Knotweed poses a host of problems that add up to significant environmental and economic impact. Share. While you may be able to describe your garden and the … Now recognised as one of the most problematic weeds … Japanese knotweed is a very serious invasive. 5596488. Once agreement has been reached, a plan drawn up and costs agreed, a solicitor should be employed to arrange a contract between all parties. Why Japanese Knotweed is Such a Problem The invasive nature of the knotweed will soon becomes apparent once it has been identified. Such control methods, relying mainly on chemicals, are widely considered to be unsustainable and so a longer-term and cost effective solution to the problem is required. Recent studies led by the CABI team in Switzerland have proved that knotweed areas suffer reduced species diversity. Local councils and the police have the power to issue Community Protection Notices against “individuals who are acting unreasonably and who persistently or continually act in a way that has a detrimental effect on the quality of life of those in the locality” including for invasive non-native species like Japanese knotweed. This species causes significant changes to the communities and ecosystems it inhabits, including visual, structural, and chemical transformations of ecosystems, which are a result of its large and clonal monocultural growth [3]. Identify Japanese knotweed. It has been described as having the biodiversity value of concrete! I have been fighting the Japanese Knotweed in my back yard for years, Last year I did extensive research on this invasive weed. Asked July 15, 2020, 5:40 PM EDT. This can range from checking that you have correctly identified the plant as Japanese knotweed through to drawing up and implementing a Japanese knotweed management plan. There are only female plants in Britain, so no viable seeds are produced. It grows at a phenomenal rate, is near-impossible to get rid of and has ruined house sales – wiping thousands off property prices. Scientists found that antibiotics over … Recreation – Knotweed is a nuisance to anglers, boaters and other river users as it impedes access. Contaminated soil should be treated as controlled waste. It normally finds a weak spot, pushes through and then expands as it goes to cause damage. Basically, if water can drain down into it, Japanese knotweed can grow up through it. Not only does the presence of Japanese This is to ensure that we give you the best experience possible. Concrete – It may be strong but not even Japanese Knotweed can grow through concrete. Huntingdon Achieving collaboration in such a case is more challenging and it would be advisable to take expert advice from the Japanese knotweed specialist. Japanese Knotweed is not the demon plant that can shatter concrete and undermine buildings that everyone believes, according to new research. Kingfisher Way The stem is hollow, bamboo-like, light green speckled with pink-red. This problem was eased when the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors introduced its assessment framework (2012) which ranked the risk of the plant into four categories. means you agree to our use of cookies. Like most websites we use cookies. Call: 01480 400000 Most properties do not have Japanese knotweed growing on them. CABI is a registered EU trademark, Housing devaluation – Knotweed found on or close to a property can have an impact on its actual and perceived value. Dense summer foliage causes heavy shading of small streams, which reduces aquatic plant communities. Where Japanese knotweed is considered to pose a risk to the property, it is usually necessary to undertake to eradicate the plant by implementing a Japanese knotweed management plan. Japanese knotweed is a notorious non-native species in the UK, and elsewhere in Europe and North America. However, it’s also a problem in the wild. Asphalt, patio slabs, driveway block paving will pose no problem to Japanese Knotweed on its unstoppable quest for light. Problems with Japanese knotweed. Home » Knowledge Centre » Is Japanese Knotweed really a problem for home owners? It’s a large clump-forming plant, which grows up to 3m tall, with light green shield-shaped leaves with a flattened base, approximately 10-15cm long. Were it to reappear, the herbicide treatment would resume and so on. The biggest problem with Japanese Knotweed is that it’s undesirable. Along with other features such as damp and structural defects, surveyors will take the risk of damage from Japanese knotweed rhizome into account in their assessment of a property. The stem is … A site assessment, in person, by an expert. Japanese knotweed (Reynoutria japonica / Fallopia japonica) is the most common species of the plant found in the UK, however, it has been known to hybridise with related species. “This means if an individual or organisation is not controlling Japanese knotweed or other invasive plants and could be reasonably expected to do so, the notice could be used after a mandatory written warning has been served beforehand to get them to stop the anti-social behaviour”. The property will be monitored for regrowth for the following two years and if still no regrowth, the property will be declared free of Japanese knotweed. If relevant you should be offered an appropriate warranty for the work that is proposed. But Knotweed does not always mean a mortgage is obtainable. Glyphosate has a remarkably low toxicity to humans and other animals and it becomes inactivated, effectively harmless, on contact with soil. (Japanese knotweed is a Schedule 9 listed plant). Japanese knotweed rhizomes in their search for moisture can interfere with drainage pipes and other structures, blocking and sometimes lifting the pipework and clogging sumps. Consulting and contracting an expert If you would like to, you can learn more about the cookies we use. Facebook; LinkedIn; Twitter; Reasons to choose Wilson Browne Japanese Knotweed, also known as Asian Knotweed, is a large herbaceous perennial plant. A notice could require an individual or organisation to make reasonable efforts to make good the problems arising as a result of Japanese knotweed within a specified period of time and/or a requirement to take reasonable steps to prevent future occurrence of the problem. 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