Treatment and Control of Japanese Knotweed Pembroke by Specialists- Green Leaf Remediation

Do you know of knotweed at your property? Have you read on the internet how this could cost you £1,000’s? Have you read it can have an effect on your mortgage or potential to market your property? Don’t fret! Green Leaf Remediation can supply solutions for the treatment and management of Japanese Knotweed Pembroke, and be assured it does not cost as much as you might think.

Japanese Knotweed is a perennial weed that grows and propagates speedily if not managed. The weed suppresses all the other plant life growing around it from the crown and rhizomes (root system) that spread extensively below ground. The shoots die out above ground in the winter months and re-emerge above ground again in late springtime, early summer season. Any well-established shoots can grow over 9ft high and may colonize the soil within a few years. There are plenty of articles that say you are able to eliminate the roots with chemical substances, however, you need an NPTC qualified person to use any chemicals as a result of new legislation which covers the management, and removal of Knotweed. There are plenty of common myths that say it is possible to remove Knotweed by hand, however, it is an extremely hard and intricate process and usually, not successful unless you work with a knotweed consultant. In the peak of the growing season, 60% of the Knotweed plants roots grow below ground so removal is very difficult and it spreads wildly from one tiny fragment of crown or rhizome. Removing Knotweed without having significant knowledge carries a very high chance of spreading the plant to other parts of the soil which were previously unaffected.

How do I remove Knotweed Pembroke?

There are several methods of getting rid of Knotweed and a Knotweed Expert will be able to give you advice on the best and most effective approach.

Knotweed Pembroke Stem-Injection is often a low impact way of removal and there is little risk of disturbing or killing the plants growing close to it. The stem-injection technique is normally used for smaller sized areas of Knotweed where it has established itself between plants and vegetation that you want to maintain. Additionally, it is an approach frequently applied when Knotweed is near a watercourse. The stem injection approach may be used in dry or inclement weather conditions and the soil cannot be disturbed following the treatment.

Knotweed Pembroke Foliar Spray Application is frequently used and is one of the most favourable control strategies along with stem-injection. The technique can be used to treat the Knotweed over a number of growing seasons. Determined by how large the area of Knotweed is, it is normally sprayed 2-3 times in the first year and once in the subsequent year. The chemical used is an Environment Agency approved herbicide and requires dry weather and the soil to remain undisturbed in the following years to be effective.

Knotweed Pembroke Weed Wiping Method is the leaves of the plant being wiped with a sponge that’s soaked with the required herbicide. It is a low impact treatment method and doesn’t kill or bother the plants adjoining it, however, its use depends upon the size of the area of knotweed.

Knotweed Pembroke Bund/Stockpiling Method is a blended treatment making use of stem-injection or foliar application, followed by digging up the underground material and removing the soil and material to a different location in which the emergence of ‘new shoots’ can be subjected to additional herbicide application. This method is employed on sites where you need the removal of the knotweed to be quick and not done over several seasons so it is consequently specifically beneficial to building plots and development sites as work can proceed without delay.

Knotweed Pembroke Cell Burial/Root Barrier Method is a treatment applied when there is enough space on site to create a cell burial or making use of a root barrier to prevent the significant expenses of transporting the soil and waste to landfill. Cell burial buries the Knotweed waste to a minimum depth, or if encapsulated within a geo-membrane it can be closer to the surface of the ground. Root barriers can be installed both vertically and horizontally when there is a risk of cross-boundary contamination. Again, a method frequently suited for development sites when development work needs to commence promptly.

Knotweed Pembroke Excavation & Removal Off-Site is a legitimate and fast control alternative which has its advantages for development sites if done correctly, having said that, a great deal of the Knotweeds Industry Professionals aren’t advocates of it because it raises substantial logistical complications. The challenges being there is a higher than normal chance of the Knotweed spreading as well as the cost to safely transport the material to a designated landfill site. There’s also a substantial duty of care requirements under the Environmental Protection Act (EPA) 1990. In conclusion, Excavation & Removal should only be used as an absolute last resort and completed by a recognised and qualified Knotweed specialist.

Is Knotweed Poisonous to Dogs, Cats and People?

Essentially, Japanese Knotweed is not poisonous and harmful to dogs, cats, people or any other animals like some other highly invasive plants. It’s not harmful to touch, nevertheless, use extreme care when near it to avoid inadvertently allowing it to spread.

Japanese Knotweed would probably be referred to as ‘poisonous’ by developers and property owners due to its highly invasive growth, ability to spread from a tiny particle left and how difficult it is to remove entirely.

Some Knotweed Myths (many of which are exploited by some companies for financial gain)• “It will grow through solid concrete” “It will destabilise foundations”

• “It will cause structural damage”
• Property affected by Japanese Knotweed is not mortgageable

In simple terms, if the previous groundwork or construction has been completed to an acceptable standard then Knotweed will not grow ‘through solid concrete’, it doesn’t destabilise solid foundations and it is highly unlikely to ‘cause’ architectural damage. In truth, these claims are inaccurate, to say the least, and in many cases, entirely false.

Nonetheless, in certain situations, if your foundations or concrete structure are old, inadequately constructed and have pre-existing cracks or fractures, then Knotweed will unquestionably exploit any weak spot in its search for light and water and will quickly establish itself, whilst exacerbating the original crack and potentially cause the structure to disintegrate.

Green Leaf Remediation Specialists covers the whole of South Wales (including Pembroke, Swansea, Cardiff and Newport), West Wales up to North Ceredigion & Powys and throughout South Glamorgan & Gwent. In addition, we carry out contracts in the West Country, as far North as Shropshire and into the Midlands & Birmingham areas.

We are a fully qualified Japanese Knotweed Certificated Surveyor (JKCS) and a family run business We specialise in controlling Japanese Knotweed, other invasive plant species and ‘general nuisance weeds’ which are found in the United Kingdom for residential premises and property development sites.

We also provide tree services, such as pollarding, crowning, pruning, felling, through our NPTC chainsaw operators, all of whom possess a vast amount of experience in the forestry industry.

Our Qualifications& Accreditations include:

• City & Guilds NPTC Level 2

• Principles of Safe Handling& Application of Pesticides (PA1/ PA6)

• Principles of Safe Handling & Application of Pesticides near water (PA6AW)

• Herbicide Stem Injection

• Property Care Association

• The Control & Eradication of Japanese Knotweed Surveyor’s Training Course

• Qualified Technician (PCAQT) in Japanese Knotweed

• Accredited Surveyor in Japanese Knotweed

Although there are numerous companies who operate within the United Kingdom weed control industry who are legitimate, knowledgeable and thorough specialists, you will find regrettably there are lots of businesses who claim to have the experience, qualifications and accreditations to ‘eradicate’/ ‘eliminate’ Japanese Knotweed at a low cost that are not qualified to remove, manage or control knotweed. We advise anyone to exercise extreme caution and to ensure that the contractor/ business you enlist to carry out your Knotweed control programme is qualified to do so and that they follow the industry codes of practice.

Give us a call on 01269 591651 or 07531142316 and one of our experts will be able to answer any questions you may have and also to arrange a site visit to assess your property or site for Japanese Knotweed Pembroke.