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Japanese knotweed is quite invasive and significantly damages properties and infrastructures. So, it is important to have a Japanese knotweed management plan in place if you have an infestation on your property. This plan will outline the steps you will take to control and eradicate the plant.

How to Plan Japanese Knotweed Removal?

The following steps will help you to create a Japanese knotweed management plan:

Survey the Infestation

The first step in creating a Japanese knotweed management plan is to survey the infestation. This will involve identifying the extent of the infestation and the location of the knotweed. The survey should also include an assessment of the soil type and the intended use of the property.

Assess the Risks

Once the infestation has been surveyed, the next step is to assess the risk posed by the knotweed. This will involve considering factors such as the size of the infestation, the location, the soil type, and the intended use of the property.

Develop a Treatment Strategy

There are various ways to treat Japanese knotweed. The best approach will depend on the size and location of the infestation, as well as the budget available. Several methods can be used to control Japanese knotweed, including Physical removal, Chemical treatment, Biological control, and A combination of methods. The choice of treatment method will depend on the specific circumstances of the infestation.

Timeline and Budget

The management plan should also include a timeline for implementation and a budget. The timeline should be realistic and achievable, and the budget should be sufficient to cover the costs of treatment or removal. Even if you are doing it yourself, you’ll need to conduct the removal in a proper time frame to get effective results.

Implement the Treatment Strategy

Once you have a treatment strategy, you need to implement it. This may involve hiring a professional contractor or doing it yourself. Either way, essential safety equipment and tools must be used to avoid any accident.

Monitor the Results

It is important to monitor the results of the treatment to ensure that it is successful. This may involve regular inspections of the infested area, as we know that Japanese Knotweed tends to grow back.

Get a Professional Japanese Knotweed Management Plan

If you need help with how to create a Japanese knotweed management plan, getting professional advice from a qualified arborist or environmental consultant is a good idea. Professional Japanese knotweed removal companies have the expertise and experience to identify and remove the plant correctly.

The team at CYB Environmental will advise you on the best treatment method for your specific situation. We will also have the necessary safety equipment and procedures in place to protect you and your property. Moreover, in the long run, hiring a professional Japanese knotweed removal company like ours may be more cost-effective than trying to do it yourself. Contact us today!

Japanese knotweed was originally introduced to the UK as an ornamental plant in the 1850s. But today, it has become a fast-growing, invasive species that can significantly damage properties. Japanese knotweed removal is therefore essential to prevent the plant from spreading and causing further damage.

Its deep and extensive roots can spread rapidly, making it difficult to control. While the weed’s damage can extend to foundations, walls, and even pavements. The plant is so destructive that it is now classified as a “controlled weed” in the UK, meaning it is illegal to plant, trade, or transport it without a permit.

Japanese Knotweed Removal Methods By CYB Environmental

Excavation

Japanese knotweed’s extensive root system often penetrates deep into the ground, necessitating comprehensive excavation to eradicate all traces. Although labour-intensive, this method guarantees a lasting solution and avoids the use of chemical herbicides, reducing environmental impacts. It stands as a reliable and effective method for Japanese knotweed removal, as it involves physically digging out the entire root system and rhizomes of the knotweed, ensuring eradication at its source.

Skilled professionals execute precise excavation to prevent unintentional spread, securing the surrounding environment. Post-excavation monitoring and follow-up maintenance are essential to ensure successful elimination, safeguarding against potential regrowth.

Chemical Control

Chemical control serves as a common and potent method for Japanese knotweed removal, as it harnesses targeted herbicides to suppress its growth. Specifically formulated chemicals are applied directly to the foliage or injected into the plant, effectively disrupting its biological processes. However, careful application is crucial to prevent unintended environmental harm.

This method can be more cost-effective and require less physical labour than excavation. Nevertheless, a comprehensive understanding of local regulations and best practices is essential to ensure responsible and sustainable application. Regular monitoring and follow-up treatments may be necessary to achieve successful, long-term eradication of the invasive species.

On-site Burial

On-site burial is a lesser-known method of Japanese knotweed removal, which involves excavating the infested soil and burying it at a significant depth within a containment area on-site. This approach isolates the invasive plant and its rhizomes, reducing the risk of spreading to other areas.

While it avoids the use of chemicals, this method demands careful handling and secure containment to prevent unintentional dispersal. On-site burial may be suitable for large-scale infestations where removal and transportation to off-site disposal facilities are impractical. Regular monitoring is essential to detect any potential regrowth and address it promptly for effective eradication.

What to Do if You Find Japanese Knotweed on Your Property

If you think you have Japanese knotweed on your property, getting a professional assessment as soon as possible is important. A professional Japanese knotweed removal team can identify the plant and recommend the best treatment method.

At CYB Environmental, we are trusted for treating and removing Japanese knotweed in the UK. With a head office in London and satellite offices in Bristol and Cardiff, we are conveniently located to service most of London, the South of England, and Wales. Our commitment ensures that we continue to provide a high-quality service, and accurately meet client objectives, whilst maintaining traditional values of honesty, integrity and professionalism. Get in touch with us today, and we will be happy to help!

Japanese knotweed is a fast-growing, clump-forming perennial plant with tall and dense stems. By exploiting the small openings in pipes or cracks in barriers such as concrete, the plant causes serious damage & sometimes even breaks apart these structures.

Known for its rapid growth, this invasive plant no wonder leaves homeowners worried for several reasons, including property damage, reduced house prices, and more. It is said to cost taxpayers millions of Pounds per year, and the situation only gets worse as the plant has continued to spread across more properties across the UK.

Japanese knotweed growth cycle

Understanding Japanese knotweed identification and the growth cycle is important to get the right treatment for it. Like most other plants, Japanese knotweed doesn’t grow throughout the year and has a seasonal life cycle that develops through different seasons in response to the varying environmental conditions.

Typically, knotweed is quite tall, up to 3m but may vary in height depending on the season. Besides, it has bamboo-like canes that grow in distinctive and dense clumps and spreads rapidly.

All these features give this invasive plant a distinctive appearance, making Japanese knotweed identification an easy task. However, it can sometimes be confused with plants, like Fallopia baldschuanica, Persicaria microcephala, and Leycesteria formosa.

Japanese knotweed identification and growth pattern in different seasons

Spring

April to May is the time when new season knotweed stems generate from the underground rhizome system of the plant, using energy stored within to stimulate rapid growth. Bud-like shoots that are red in colour appear first just a few millimetres high from the ground. With the rise in the weather temperature, the buds erupt and begin to grow as stems. In mature knotweed plants, the rate at which they typically grow is 12-18 cm a day. Emergent stems when 10-20 cm high may look like asparagus spears, but soon develop a distinctive appearance when branches and leaves unfurl.

Summer

Japanese knotweed identification is the easiest in summer as it is the peak growing season for the plant. By early summer, the stems of the plant reach full height which is typically 2.5-3 m high in mature plants and sometimes higher than that, especially in giant knotweed. By June to July, knotweed starts growing at the rate of several centimetres a day. The free-standing canes of the plant develop purplish speckling near the base and are covered by a dense canopy of foliage at the sides as well as above the stand. This dense canopy blocks the sunlight and stymies the knotweed growth below.

Autumn

By late summer and early autumn, you see clusters of tiny cream-coloured flowers on the plant. The growth of knotweed usually slows down during this time of the year. The plant prepares for the winter season ahead by re-absorbing all the essential nutrients back into its underground rhizome system. This turns all the leaves as well as stems yellow and then brown as the parts of the plant above the ground die off.

Winter

Winter is the most difficult time of the year for Japanese knotweed identification since the plant dies off and enters the dormant phase during this season. But do not be fooled. Its rhizome system is present beneath the soil, all set to emerge again when spring returns and temperatures rise.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our Japanese knotweed management team at CYB Environmental, and we will be happy to help. You can also call us on 020 3005 8755 today!

Like any kind of plant, Japanese knotweed has early signs of growth that allow you to identify the weed before it grows out of control. Japanese knotweed has been known to grow through walls, concrete and even tarmac, damaging the infrastructure of many homes across the UK. For this reason, it’s vital to identify Japanese knotweed in its early stages.

Here’s how you can stop Japanese knotweed in its tracks by looking out for key signs of growth.

Heart-shaped leaves

One of Japanese knotweed’s most prominent features is the heart-shaped (or shovel-shaped) leaves that dominate the plant. They are a vibrant green and can grow up to 20cm long, so aren’t hard to spot. The leaves will be staggered on the stem rather than clustered, giving them more opportunity to soak up sunlight, but will be curled up and dark in colour when the shoots first emerge.

Red shoots appearing

Once Japanese knotweed starts growing, you should be able to identify new red/purple shoots that are often compared to asparagus. These shoots can grow up to 10ft tall and will quickly develop into dense areas of bamboo-like stems during the spring. If you believe you have Japanese knotweed growing on your property and you attempt to cut these shoots down, you should notice a hollow interior. If the interior is solid, it’s likely the plant isn’t Japanese knotweed.

Buds form in early spring

Japanese knotweed growth occurs mainly between April and October, so you will see the appearance of flower buds from early spring onwards. Japanese knotweed buds are round in shape and tend to bloom between late summer and early autumn. The resulting flowers develop in small clusters and are cream/white in colour, creating thick foliage around the leaves and stems.

Quick growth

As one of the fastest-growing weeds in the UK, it’s been reported that Japanese knotweed has grown up to 10cm a day in the height of summer. If you’ve noticed a plant quickly spreading across your garden and even infiltrating other properties, then chances are you’re dealing with Japanese knotweed. The rapid root growth also increases its external appearance, with the plant reaching heights of up to 3 metres in 6 weeks.

Identifying Japanese knotweed with CYB

If you believe you’ve found Japanese knotweed on your property, you can contact CYB Environmental. We offer a free and quick identification that can help you confirm the presence of this weed, even in its early stages, before discussing removal. Currently, our Japanese knotweed solutions include:

– Chemical control
– Excavation of the roots
– On-site burial

We’ll inform you of the best removal method for your situation, helping to control the plant and remove Japanese knotweed from your property. Our services extend to customers across the UK, especially to those in Japanese knotweed hotspots. If you require Japanese knotweed removal don’t hesitate to get in touch with CYB Environmental, as failing to deal with this plant could lead to criminal charges.

Read more about the implications of leaving Japanese knotweed to grow in our blog and find out why it’s best to deal with Japanese knotweed as soon as possible.

What is Japanese knotweed?

Japanese Knotweed, also known as Fallopia Japonica is a weed that has the potential to grow up to 20cm per day, causing devastating environmental problems. Not only this, but it can also ruin houses by destroying the exterior walls that surround the property. This can have devastating impacts on the value of the property and make it hard for buyers to get a mortgage. Japanese Knotweed was first brought into the UK in 1850- before it was known how damaging the plant can be and how rapidly it grows.

How does Japanese Knotweed spread?

It is rare that Japanese Knotweed produces seeds, but it does happen on occasion. You might be left wondering how the weed spreads so rapidly! Instead, Japanese Knotweed spreads through the nodes of green stem – water and soil is the perfect environment for the weed to grow! The dispersal of the rhizome fragments, stems and crowns make it easy for this plant to thrive under the UK’s climate. Despite being a huge problem in the UK, the weed isn’t as invasive in Japan as it propagates in a different manner. Taking the weed out of its natural habitat in 1850 was a big mistake as instead of spreading seeds like in Japan, it has learned to survive and spread through roots, stems and crowns.

Each of these infestive plants in the UK is supported by an underground system filled with stems, crowns and rhizomes which spread and send shoots to the surface. It doesn’t take much for a whole plant to grow like the weed can form a fully grown plant from a single rhizome as small as 10mm. This is why it is so important to dispose of Japanese Knotweed correctly, as it can so easily contaminate the ground by dumping it.

Where does Japanese Knotweed come from?

This weed does not simply just appear from nowhere. If you have spotted Japanese Knotweed on your premises, you can expect to find it in the surrounding areas. Try asking your neighbours if they have it in their garden, or have a look around your property to see if you can spot where the Japanese Knotweed is coming from. If you can not identify Japanese Knotweed nearby, there is a possibility that contaminated soil was dumped on your land, which could have been transferred via foot or on a car.

Can animals spread Japanese Knotweed?

Certain animals are able to spread Japanese Knotweed through their droppings. These animals include sheep, cattle and goats. It is unlikely that rhizome fragments will be the cause of new growth via droppings, however, their droppings could contain stems or canes. These can indeed survive the pass through the animals digestive system and form new growth when positioned back into the soil.

Where in the UK is contaminated?

It is to the point now where there are only a few places that the Japanese Knotweed hasn’t spread. A government-approved scheme has now been put into place to track the spread of the weed. The most contaminated areas are London, Birmingham, Leicester, Nottingham, Sheffield, Bristol, Cardiff, Swansea, Plymouth, Southampton, Brighton, Blackpool, Manchester, Leeds, York, Peterborough, Northampton, Southampton, Brighton and Newcastle.

How fast does Japanese Knotweed spread?

During the summer, Japanese Knotweed has been known to spread as much as 20cm per day. Although we know that it rapidly spreads above the ground, there has been no research conducted on what happens below the ground, yet we know that Japanese Knotweed can and does spread through its roots.

Thank you for reading our blog ‘How does Japanese Knotweed spread’. If you have spotted Japanese Knotweed and need to get it removed, we offer removal services with a 5-year warranty, take a look at our website today.

Japanese knotweed is much easier to identify during the summer months with its large heart-shaped leaves and white bunched flowers. The real question is though, what does Japanese knotweed in the winter look like? Can you remove Japanese Knotweed throughout the winter?

One thing is for certain, Japanese knotweed does not die during the wintertime, so don’t be deceived by its dead-looking leaves and stalks! Japanese knotweed prefers to shy away in the wintertime, getting away from the cold, dampness, frost and snow. The weed is not as visible as it is tucked away beneath the ground, where its rhizome system holds on to all the energy it needs to survive through harsh weather conditions. The visible part of the plant starts to deteriorate over the autumn months, where the leaves start to fall, leaving bare canes behind.

What does a Japanese Knotweed winter look like?

As previously mentioned, what can be seen above ground is sparse, especially if the infestation is small and the weeds can be easily flattened. In summer, Japanese knotweed can grow up to 20cm per day! On the other hand, Japanese knotweed during winter usually will not progress growing unless the conditions are at a higher temperature than usual. Large spaces that contain Japanese Knotweed may however be more easily spotted. Hordes of Japanese knotweed canes can stand even throughout the wind and rain.

An effective way to spot Japanese Knotweed during winter is by looking up close. You will notice stems shaped in a zigzag pattern, growing towards the sky. These canes will have an appearance similar to bamboo in a darker shade- hollow and light. Depending on what time you catch the weed, you may also notice the remains of white flower clusters. It is important to try not to break the plant or stand on the plant when identifying them as you may unknowingly spread it to different locations.

-If you’re unsure how to identify Japanese Knotweed, get the professionals in at CYB–

I’ve identified a Japanese Knotweed winter- what do I do?

Whatever the case, do not cut or chop Japanese Knotweed down. Japanese Knotweed is extremely difficult to dispose of and you can get fined for disposing of it incorrectly. Breaking canes of the knotweed risk breaking off a part of the crown attached to the underground rhizome network. This can trigger new growth, yes, but it can also lead to new areas of knotweed appearing in your property if the fragments are not properly handled.

A knotweed rhizome fragment that weighs as little as 0.7g can produce a new plant, which is why it’s so important to call up specialists like CYB as soon as possible. Specialists can remove the Japanese knotweed using methods that ensure they won’t return. In fact, CYB has a 5-year warranty to make sure that you feel confident in using their service.

Japanese knotweed winter in urban areas

Japanese knotweed in urban areas can appear little or not at all during winter, however, these are the areas that are most at harm from the weed. They can stand as a serious environmental problem, destroying local ecosystems and causing erosion near riverbanks. Winter floods can enhance a Japanese knotweed infestation as fragments of the knotweed can get transported via the water to new locations.

Thank You for reading our blog ‘What does a Japanese Knotweed winter look like’. If you have identified Japanese Knotweed in or around your property, make sure you call up the specialists CYB today.