Japanese Knotweed Carmarthen – Treatment, Control & Removal by Green Leaf Remediations

Have you seen knotweed at your property?

Have you read on the internet how much this is likely to set you back?

Might it affect your mortgage or potential to sell your property?

Please do not worry, Green Leaf Remediation can provide services for the treatment and control of Knotweed Carmarthen. Contact us today on either 01269 591651 or 07531142316  and we can answer any questions you have.

What is Japanese Knotweed/Fallopia Japonica?

Japanese Knotweed is a perennial weed that will grow and propagates rather quickly if not controlled. The weed suppresses all the other plant life growing around it from the crown and rhizomes (root system) that spread extensively below the 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 in excess of 9ft high and may colonize the soil within a few years. There are several articles that say you’ll be able to eliminate the roots with chemicals, however, you’ll need an NPTC qualified person to utilise any chemical substances resulting from new legislation which covers the management, and removal of Knotweed. There are plenty of common myths that say you can remove Knotweed by hand, however, it is an extremely difficult and intricate process and in most cases, not successful unless you make use of a knotweed expert. In the height of the growing season, 60% of the Knotweed plant is its roots underground so removal is incredibly challenging also it spreads wildly from one tiny fragment of crown or rhizome. Removing Knotweed material without substantial knowledge has a very good probability of distributing the plant to other parts of the soil that have been previously unaffected.

How to eliminate Knotweed?

There are many methods of getting rid of Knotweed and a Knotweed Expert can give you advice on the best and most effective procedure.

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

Japanese Knotweed Carmarthen Foliar Spray Application is often employed and is one of the most favourable control methods along with stem injection. The process can be used to manage the Knotweed over numerous growing seasons. Dependent on the size of the area of Knotweed is it is normally sprayed 2-3 times in the first year and once in the subsequent years. The chemical used is an Environment Agency approved herbicide and requires dry weather conditions and also the soil to remain undisturbed in subsequent years to be effective.

Japanese Knotweed Carmarthen Weed Wiping Method is the leaves of the plant being wiped with a sponge that is soaked with the required herbicide. This is a low impact treatment and does not kill or bother the foliage encircling it, even so, its use depends upon how big the area of knotweed.

Japanese Knotweed CarmarthenBund/Stockpiling Method is a combined treatment method using stem-injection or foliar application, then excavating the underground material and removing the soil and material to a different location where the emergence of ‘new shoots’ can be subjected to additional herbicide application. This process can be used on sites where you need the removal of the knotweed to be quick and not done over several seasons so is consequently especially beneficial to building plots of land and development sites as work can proceed straight away.

Japanese Knotweed Carmarthen Cell Burial/Root Barrier Method is a treatment employed if you have adequate space on site to create a cell burial or utilising a root barrier to avert the considerable 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 danger of cross-boundary contamination. Again, an approach generally suited for development sites when development work needs to start promptly.

Japanese Knotweed Carmarthen Excavation & Removal Off-Site is a legitimate and swift control option which has its advantages for development sites if performed correctly, however, a great deal of Knotweeds Professionals aren’t advocates of it simply because it raises considerable logistical obstacles. The challenges being it comes with an extremely high risk of the Knotweed spreading and also the cost to securely 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 must only be used as an absolute last resort

Is Knotweed Harmful to Dogs, Cats and People?

Essentially, Japanese Knotweed isn’t poisonous and harmful to dogs, cats, people or any other animals like some other extremely invasive plants. It is not harmful to touch, nonetheless, always employ extreme care when in close proximity to it to prevent unintentionally allowing it to spread.

Japanese Knotweed may possibly be referred to as ‘poisonous’ by developers and property owners because of its extremely invasive growth, ability to spread from a tiny particle left and just how difficult it is to remove entirely.

Some Knotweed Common Myths

(some of which are taken advantage of 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 completed to an acceptable standard then Knotweed will not grow ‘through solid concrete’, it does not destabilise solid foundations and it is highly, highly unlikely to ‘cause’ architectural damage. In fact, these claims are misleading, to say the least, and perhaps, totally untrue.

Having said that, in a few instances, when the foundations or concrete are old, inadequately constructed and have pre-existing cracks or fractures within, then Knotweed will unquestionably exploit any weakness in its search for light and water and will rapidly establish itself, whilst exacerbating the initial fracture and potentially cause the structure to disintegrate.

Green Leaf Remediation Specialists covers Carmarthen and the whole of South Wales (including Swansea, Cardiff and Newport), West Wales up to North Ceredigion & Powys and throughout South Glamorgan & Gwent. We also 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 species and ‘general nuisance weeds’ that are found in the United Kingdom for residential premises and land 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 practical experience within the forestry industry.

Our Qualifications & Accreditations incorporate:

• 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 several contractors who operate within the United Kingdom weed control industry that are legitimate, knowledgeable and thorough professionals, there are regrettably plenty of companies who claim to have the experience, qualifications and accreditations to ‘eradicate/eliminate’ Japanese Knotweed at low cost. Nonetheless, we would recommend anyone to exercise caution and to ensure the service provider/ company you employ to carry out the control programme are qualified to do this and they follow the industry codes of practice.

Call us on 01269 591651 or 07531142316 and one of our Knotweed Control & Removal experts will be able to answer any questions you might have and arrange a site visit if you have or think you have Knotweed Carmarthen.