Japanese Knotweed Removal in Chippenham
Japanese Knotweed Removal in Chippenham including Treatment and Sustained Control Methods from the trusted SW Knotweed Removal Specialists.
Do you have, or do you think you have Japanese Knotweed?
This tends to lead to a lot of stress and worry. Don’t lose hope! SW Knotweed Removal provides services throughout the UK, including Chippenham and the surrounding areas, for the identification, remedy and when essential removal of the knotweed. If you need guidance or to request a visit, you can telephone us on 01269 591651.
Just what is Knotweed?
Knotweed is called Fallopia Japonica, it is an invasive weed which is a plant from the dock family and it ordinarily has sheaths where the leaves join the stems.
Japanese Knotweed is known as a highly intrusive plant that can mature rapidly, overtaking other plants and flowers close to if it is left to its own devices. Knotweed is challenging to remove and its existence on or near to a property could have an effect on home sales, purchases and bring about unanticipated expenses.
Knotweed features a really wide and incredibly strong root system. The roots can develop 3 metres down in the earth and 7 metres wide and upwards. It grows quickly, at a rate of greater than a metre a week. The roots can impact existing structures and make it difficult to build foundations and incorporate drain systems into the ground however it doesn’t grow through solid concrete.
It is very difficult to remove 100 % of the roots effectively and in case a tiny piece of its grass root is not entirely eradicated, it’s going to rapidly recover and spread.
Knotweed is known to target weak points, such as cracks in masonry, and can be persistent in growing through them if not extracted.
Exactly Where did Japanese Knotweed originate?
A Dutch doctor called Phillipe von Siebold came to the British Isles in the late 1840’s and began to market Japanese Knotweed to botanical gardens as well as society people.
The Brief History of Knotweed
By 1869 it became readily available for general sale in the united kingdom and farmers began to use it as feed for their animals. By the late 19th century home gardeners urged people to buy and plant knotweed in their home gardens to create a little greenery. Little did they know the disastrous effects knotweed may have from their rapid growth and plant’s roots.
The consequence of it being widely brought to a home or open public gardens resulted in it spreading quickly and growing in the wild. By the 1930’s the consequences and impact of knotweed began to be realised and its reputation for being a wonderful evergreen plant swiftly waned. Its invasive nature, roots and ability to propagate and establish easily were starting to show.
During Winter knotweed dies back to ground level but in early summertime, the bamboo-like stems emerge from rhizomes deep underground to shoot to more than 7ft high, whilst suppressing all the other plant development under and also over the ground.
The Wildlife and Country Act made it an offence to introduce Japanese Knotweed into wild areas three decades ago and by 1998 a survey revealed that the weed-covered an enormous area of 99 hectares within the Swansea region alone.
In 2011 aphids were introduced in Swansea to try and eliminate the widespread knotweed however it was without the result that was needed. An aphid is a small insect which feeds by sucking sap from vegetation; a blackfly or greenfly. Aphids multiply speedily, at times producing live young without mating, and large numbers can cause extensive problems for everyday homegrown and wild plant life.
Since this time, the government continues to be at a loss for a way to correctly control knotweed in the UK, so there are now companies which specialise in removing knotweed.
Are there any benefits of Knotweed?
Some people believe there are a few health benefits from Japanese knotweed, which includes; its capacity to prevent and treat cognitive disorders, increase heart overall health, lessen your probability of many forms of cancer, reduce digestive problems, lower blood pressure levels, sustain proper insulin levels, and more.
Can you get a mortgage on a property or home with Knotweed?
It’s not necessarily impossible to get a mortgage for a house with knotweed, having said that, banks are invariably very cautious because of its capacity to disperse rapidly. Additionally, buyers and banks are clearly careful when considering purchasing a home or land in which knotweed is found.
Home Owners Insurance and Cross-Boundary Complications
Insurance for a home with knotweed can be extremely difficult.
Most buildings insurance policies do not cover you for problems attributable to knotweed. If your neighbour has knotweed and your home is impacted by it, most insurance firms may very well go after others for the cost of damages caused to your house.
The hapless circumstances of homeowners suffering from problems in advertising their house, as a result of knotweed infestation on nearby territory have become progressively frequent in recent times and it normally comes within the realms of risk category 3 to 4. It can turn into an uncomfortable situation and it has been the fundamental cause of acrimonious and extended neighbourhood quarrels.
Whilst there’s legislation which may be pursued to encourage the landowner where the contamination lies, into arranging remedial work, in truth the regulations is quite weak and certainly wasn’t introduced by the United Kingdom government with the matter of Japanese Knotweed at the forefront.
To sum it up, we advise you to be very cautious if you’re planning on buying property or land where knotweed is discovered. Costs to eliminate knotweed can escalate and the whole removal is not always guaranteed due to its ability to propagate from one very small root and its fast growth.
Knotweed Myths, Misconceptions and Facts
There are numerous common myths about tips on how to eliminate Japanese Knotweed along with what the best course of action to take is. Putting sea salt, diesel, caustic soda, turpentine, fairy liquid on the plant or into the soil are just some of the most popular myths which seem to have gathered momentum in recent times.
- The subsequent statements are NOT legitimate:
- It’ll grow through solid cement
- It can destabilise foundations
- It has the potential to result in structural damage
- Knotweed may damage structures particularly if left to cultivate unhindered for many years
- This invasive plant can have such a remarkable effect on buildings, foundations & cement
Basically, if groundwork and building work has been performed to a good standard in the past, then knotweed won’t grow ‘through solid concrete’, it does not destabilise sound foundations, it doesn’t lead to architectural damage, it will not ‘damage buildings’ and it won’t have a dramatic impact on any ‘solid structure’. These claims are mistaken and in many cases, bogus.
The real truth about knotweed is that is a wild plant and it will grow and spreads quickly overtaking other plant life close to it.
About SW Knotweed and our Knotweed Removal in Chippenham
We are a local family- run, Invasive Weed Management business, supplying a professional and reliable service. We started in 2013 by Carwyn Templeton, a fully qualified Japanese Knotweed Certificated Surveyor (JKCS) through the Property Care Association.
We primarily specialise in getting rid of Japanese Knotweed (Fallopia Japonica), along with other invasive plant species and ‘general nuisance weeds’ found in the United Kingdom. We provide our professional services for non-commercial premises and land reserved for housing and business development.
Knotweed Legislations
There’s a lot of legislation covering the handling and disposal of Japanese Knotweed and we’re experts in this region, constantly providing you advice on the most effective remedy for your residence or land.
Our knotweed treatment solutions are supported by the Environment Agency Codes of Practice and also the industry trade body/ The Property Care Association which can be tailored to accommodate you as the customer.
Our Knotweed Control and Removal Methods for Knotweed Removal in Chippenham
There are several strategies to control and remove knotweed and you should always use a professional and qualified company who completely understand the mind- field of legal guidelines and methods that needs to be implemented.
Stem- Injection for Knotweed Removal in Chippenham
Stem-injection is a low impact approach to managing and controlling knotweed. It’s normally used for smaller contaminations and it is applied in the event the knotweed has established itself amongst other plant life that you won’t want to be eliminated as there is a lesser amount of probability of damaging the nearby vegetation. It is also employed in places that there’s a watercourse due to it being a significantly less dangerous approach of treatment. The stem-injection method can be accomplished in dry or inclement atmospheric condition and the soil needs to continue to be undisturbed following treatment.
Foliar Application for Knotweed Removal in Chippenham
Foliar Application is a spray method of knotweed treatment and it is applied when the treatment method may be replicated over several of its growing seasons. The knotweed is sprayed with an approved herbicide and the procedure is performed two or three times within the first year depending on the size of the knotweed and then once in the next year. The procedure has to be carried out in dry weather and also the earth undisturbed in the following years.
Weed Wiping for Knotweed Removal in Chippenham
The Weed wiping strategy can be achieved in areas where there are other plants and flowers that you don’t want to be impacted, much like the Stem- injection approach. The knotweed leaves are wiped with a sponge soaked with a suitable herbicide that means only they are impacted.
Bund/Stockpiling for Knotweed Removal in Chippenham
Bund or stockpiling is a combined treatment of stem- injection or foliar application which is accompanied by excavation of the below ground material and removal of the dirt to a different section of the site. The newest shoots that emerge will be exposed to additional herbicide application. This process of removal is faster than the more commonly employed approaches which are replicated on a yearly basis and when done correctly it allows a developer to begin using the land sooner.
Cell Burial/Root Barrier for Knotweed Removal in Chippenham
Cell Burial or using a Root Barrier will eliminate the substantial expenses of transporting the knotweed dirt and waste to landfill, nonetheless, the site needs to be big enough for the knotweed material to be buried to a minimum depth or, if encapsulated within a geomembrane, it could be buried closer to the surface. Root barriers may be installed both vertically and horizontally and this method is utilised when there is a risk of cross-boundary contamination.
Excavation & Removal Off Site for Knotweed Removal in Chippenham
Excavation & Removal of knotweed material off-site is a legitimate and fast control method. It has its advantages for development sites when done efficiently, even so, the significant logistical difficulties of this approach are challenging. There is a high-risk of the knotweed spreading and therefore leads to the risk-free movement of the materials to landfill being very expensive. There’s an extensive duty of care demanded under the Environmental Protection Act( EPA ) 1990 with this method of removal. We are willing to act in a consultancy function as clerk of the works for this technique of removal, providing selected conditions are satisfied with the landowner or developer. We frequently advise that the Excavation & Removal technique should only be used as an absolute final measure.
Knotweed Removal in Chippenham and all of our sustained control methods are available to homes, businesses and properties. We will consider a staggered repayment schedule for any work that doesn’t involve a third party, as well as for clients who want evidence of pre-payment in full from the outset from their mortgage lenders.
To find out more or if you have questions regarding Knotweed Removal in Chippenham, phone us on 01269 591651 and one of our expert team will gladly help.
