How To Identify Japanese Knotweed

We are often contacted by distressed individuals who are dealing with accusations and claims due to simply not knowing that they had Japanese Knotweed on their property. In the height of the growing season, Japanese Knotweed is generally an attractive plant and we have had stories of people watering and pruning it to suit to their garden. Of course, as the weed has spread and become harder to manage, it has raised concerns to both the owner and neighbour and with a click of the search tab – ‘Japanese Knotweed Claims! Claim your compensation today!’Before you know it, the neighbour has instructed solicitors and the owner is in distress.

This is just one example of how individuals can unknowingly land themselves in trouble for an innocent mistake. We are aiming to raise awareness of the plant and the implications it can have so this situation can possibly be avoided in the future, starting with how to identify Japanese Knotweed.

Japanese Knotweed Through The Seasons

Japanese Knotweed in the spring will appear in reddish shoots which resemble asparagus. These can then grow up to 2cm a day, formulating thick bamboo-like stems which will then start to develop smooth, green, heart-shaped leaves.

In the early summer, the stems are hollow which purple speckles. The leaves are bright green and appear to alternate along each side of the stem in a zig-zag pattern. The plant will now start to grow even more rapidly, reaching a maximum height of up to 3 metres!

By the late summer, clusters of creamy white flowers appear on the plant. These provide a great source of nectar for insects so look out for an influx of insects to your garden when identifying Japanese Knotweed in the summertime.

As we move into the winter, the leaves will fall from the plant and the canes will die. The canes turn brown and have a dark orange centre. Do not be fooled by dying appearance because without effective treatment, they will be back to invade your garden the following spring!

For photographic reference, check out our identification section on our website https://www.japaneseknotweedexpert.co.uk/faq/identifying-japanese-knotweed-2/.

Just by simply knowing how to spot Japanese Knotweed can save you a lot of hassle in the future. The earlier it is identified, the earlier licenced professionals such as ourselves can start to remediate the issue.

If you think you have Japanese Knotweed growing on your property, send a picture to our email info@japaneseknotweedexpert.co.uk for a free identification service.

Our Advice…

As a potential home-buyer, you may have been warned about Japanese Knotweed. It’s invasive and destructive nature can cause structural damage to buildings and walls and the mere presence of Japanese Knotweed on or around the boundary of a property can result in a depreciation of its value. For many who are looking to get on the property ladder, the mere mention of ‘depreciation’ might make them run a mile, but the presence of Japanese Knotweed can be an extremely useful bargaining chip for getting up to 10% of the market value knocked off!

There are some leg-work and initial outlay on the home-buyers part, but for many, it’s worth the effort for the overall saving. As a starting point, a site survey is required to help in the formulation of a management plan. These in tandem give an accurate idea of devaluation costs, which can then be relayed to the vendor and estate agent. A typical spraying and injection treatments costs, on average, around 2-3k. Once these costs are accounted for the home-buyer stands to potentially make a saving of £5,000 off the asking price.

If you think you may have Japanese Knotweed growing on a property you are looking to purchase, give us a call on 0800 1337 444, or e-mail us at info@japaneseknotweedexpert.co.uk to explore your options! 

When we talk about Japanese Knotweed, we often reference the detrimental effects it can have on the property, especially depreciation in value.

Beyond that, Japanese Knotweed has a significant impact on our environment, and it is another reason Japanese Knotweed Expert is so passionate about eradicating it.

In its Japanese habitat, the growth of Knotweed is limited due to environmental factors. For example, it grows on active volcanos and is regularly smothered by volcanic ash and landslides. Pests, fungi and diseases also attack the weed, keeping it in check and limiting its invasive potential.

In the UK, conditions are much more favourable for Japanese Knotweed, which allows it to run amok and wreak havoc on our environment. Because it grows so rapidly and spreads like wildfire, Japanese Knotweed can displace native vegetation, impact on the diversity of insects in the area and increase the risk of flooding due to soil erosion. Around water, Japanese Knotweed can damage river-banks and cause blockages within infrastructures such as sluices and drains.

For the above reasons, it is so important that Japanese Knotweed is addressed as soon as it is discovered. Not only could it leave you out of pocket, but it could also overrun your property, smothering wildlife and leaving you at risk!

Contact us today to rid yourself of Japanese Knotweed for good! 

What is Japanese Knotweed?

Japanese knotweed is a fast-growing, invasive weed, it is rapidly becoming one of Britain’s most invasive weeds. Japanese knotweed can remain dormant for over twenty years, but once it begins to grow, it can spread at a length of 1.2 metres per month and up to a whopping 10cm a day in the summer. It develops a series of underground roots and shoots, referred to as rhizomes, which can grow out for several metres from the original stand. To find out more, click here.

CPD Japanese Knotweed Course

If you work within an industry where Japanese Knotweed poses a real threat, whether that be through your client’s property, your development site or even legal disputes, our Japanese Knotweed CPD course may prove to be invaluable for you!

CPD is an important part of any professional’s development in the workplace. Make sure you are booked onto our next event, which will ensure you are kept up to date with any changes in Japanese Knotweed legislation.

In today’s culture of “where there’s a blame, there’s a claim” can you really afford to be sued for negligence?

Get in touch on 0800 1337 444 or email info@japaneseknotweedexpert.co.uk to book onto the next CPD course now!

If you live in the UK, you will have noticed the incredibly mild winter we have just had. While typically a lot of us will be happy to have seen the back end of it, those of us who have a Japanese Knotweed infestation on their premises will have a feeling of dread when they see the tell-tale red shoots coming back up earlier in the year than expected.

Around this time of year, you can expect to see Japanese Knotweed shoots starting to come through with red/purple speckled stems. You may also notice that the Japanese Knotweed plants may have leaves that are furled with red veins running through them – by the end of the month, these leaves will have unfurled fully, displaying their distinctive heart shape. The leaves also alternate in a zig-zag formation; this being one of the key characteristics to look out for when identifying the invasive weed.

Treatment at this time of year is usually not recommended as it can be ineffective, waiting until mid-May, when the plant has had a chance to develop, is a lot more likely to have more of an impact on the weed, as there is a lot more green growth to absorb the active ingredient in the herbicide.

If you think you have Japanese Knotweed growing in your garden and need identification, please feel free to contact us or email us a picture at info@japaneseknotweedexpert.co.uk!Or to find out more click here.