Japanese Knotweed Tenby

Control and Treatment by Professionals – Green Leaf Remediation & Tree Services Ltd

Do you think you have Japanese Knotweed Tenby?

Are you reading online about how this is going to cost you £1,000’s?

Have you been told it might have an effect on your mortgage or potential to sell your own home?

Green Leaf Remediation & Tree Services Ltd offer treatment and control methods for Japanese Knotweed in Tenby and be reassured it won’t cost as much as you may think.

Japanese Knotweed Tenby

  • Japanese Knotweed can sometimes be referred to as Bamboo and Peashooters
  • Japanese Knotweed is a perennial weed that grows and propagates fairly quickly if not controlled
  • The weed suppresses other plants growing around it from it’s crown and rhizomes (root system) that spread extensively underground
  • The shoots die out above ground in winter and re-emerge above ground once more in late springtime, early summer
  • Any well-established shoots can grow more than 9ft high and may colonize the soil within a few years
  • There are several articles that say it is possible to kill the roots with chemicals, however, you’ll need an NPTC qualified person to use any chemical substances due to new legislation which covers the management, and removal of Knotweed
  • There are many myths that say it is possible to remove Knotweed yourself, however, this is an extremely difficult and intricate procedure and often, not successful unless you work with knotweed professionals who have the experience and qualifications to do it safely and successfully
  • In the height of the growing season, 60% of the Knotweed plants roots are below ground so removal is very difficult and it spreads wildly from one tiny fragment of crown or rhizome
  • Removing Knotweed without having extensive knowledge carries a very good chance of spreading the plant to other parts of the soil which were previously unaffected

Japanese Knotweed TenbyHow do you eradicate Japanese Knotweed Tenby?

There are various methods of removing Knotweed / Bamboo / Peashooters and a Knotweed Specialist can advise you of the best and most efficient procedure.

Stem-Injection

A low impact way of removal and there is little likelihood of disturbing or killing the plants growing around it. The stem injection method is used for smaller sized areas of Knotweed where it has established itself among plants and vegetation you want to keep. It’s also an approach often applied when Knotweed is in close proximity to a watercourse. The stem-injection technique works extremely well in dry or inclement weather conditions and the soil can’t be disturbed following the treatment.

Foliar Spray Application

Frequently employed and is among the most favourable control methods as well as stem-injection. The process is used to treat the Knotweed over several growing seasons. Dependent upon the size of the area of Knotweed is it is frequently sprayed 2-3 times in the first year and once in the subsequent years. The chemical used is an Environment Agency approved herbicide and needs dry weather and the soil to remain undisturbed in subsequent years to be effective.

Weed Wiping Method

The leaves of the plant are wiped with a sponge that’s soaked with the necessary herbicide. This is a low impact treatment and doesn’t kill or disturb the plants surrounding it, however, its use depends upon how big the area of knotweed is.

Bund/Stockpiling Method

A blended treatment making use of stem-injection or foliar application, then 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 can be used on sites where you need the removal of the knotweed to be fast and not done over several seasons so is especially good for building plots of land and development sites as work can carry on without delay.

Cell Burial/Root Barrier Method

A treatment used if you have sufficient space on site to create a cell burial or utilising a root barrier to avoid 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 geomembrane 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 generally suited for development sites when building work needs to start quickly.

Excavation & Removal Off-Site

A legitimate and quick control option that has its advantages for development sites if done correctly, having said that, a lot of the Knotweeds Industry experts aren’t advocates of it as it raises considerable logistical difficulties. 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 is also a considerable duty of care requirements under the Environmental Protection Act (EPA) 1990. In conclusion, Excavation & Removal should only be used as an absolute last resort.

Is Knotweed Poisonous to Dogs, Cats and Humans?

In simple terms, Japanese Knotweed isn’t poisonous and harmful to dogs, cats, humans or any other animals like some other highly invasive plants. It’s not harmful to touch, however, always employ extreme caution when near it to prevent 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, its capability to spread from a tiny particle left and how difficult it is to remove completely.

Some Knotweed Misconceptions (many of which are exploited by some contractors 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”

Essentially, if the previous groundwork or construction has been performed to a satisfactory standard then Knotweed will not grow ‘through solid concrete’, it will not destabilise solid foundations and it is highly unlikely to ‘cause’ architectural damage. These claims are deceiving, to say the least, and in some cases, totally untrue.

Nevertheless, in certain situations, if the foundations or concrete are old, poorly built and have pre-existing cracks or fractures within, then Knotweed will certainly make use of any weak spot in its quest for light and water and will rapidly establish itself, whilst exacerbating the initial fracture and possibly cause the structure to disintegrate.

Green Leaf Remediation Specialists covers the whole of South Wales (including Swansea, Cardiff and Newport), West Wales up to North Ceredigion & Powys and throughout South Glamorgan & Gwent & Tenby. Additionally, 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), family run business. We specialise in controlling Japanese Knotweed, other invasive plant varieties 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

• 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 plenty of contractors who operate within the UK weed control industry who are respectable, knowledgeable and thorough professionals, you can regrettably find lots of companies who claim to have the experience, qualifications and accreditations to ‘eradicate’/ ‘eliminate’ Japanese Knotweed at low cost. However, we would advise anyone to exercise caution and to make sure that the contractor/ company you enlist to undertake the control programme are qualified to do so and they comply with the industry codes of practice.

Contact us on 01269 591651 or 07531142316 and one of our experts can answer any questions you might have and to arrange a site visit to assess if you have Japanese Knotweed Tenby Bamboo or Peashooters in Tenby.

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