Japanese Knotweed Swansea: Removal, Treatment and Control in Swansea
Knotweed Swansea Specialists: Green Leaf Remediations
Do you have knotweed on your property? Have you read how this will probably set you back thousands of pounds? Does it affect your mortgage or your ability to sell your own home? Please do not fret; Green Leaf Remediation can offer you expert advice and solutions for Japanese Knotweed Treatment Methods and Control Swansea, and be reassured that it does not cost as much as you may think. Call your local Japanese Knotweed expert on 01269 591651 or 07531142316.
How do I eliminate knotweed Swansea?
There are several methods of elimination and control of knotweed Swansea, and a specialist offering knotweed services will be able to give you advice on the best and most effective method.
Stem-Injection is usually a low-impact approach to removal, and there is little probability of disturbing or killing the plants growing close to it. The hollow stems are injected and is used for smaller areas of knotweed where it has established itself amongst plants and vegetation that you want to keep. It’s also a technique normally applied when knotweed is close to a watercourse. The stem injection approach works extremely well in dry or inclement weather conditions. The soil cannot be disturbed following the treatment.
Foliar Spray Application is often employed and is among the most favourable control strategies, along with stem injection. The process can be used to manage and control the knotweed over several growing seasons. Depending on the size of the area of invasive species, it is frequently sprayed 2-3 times in the first year and once in the following years. The chemical used is an Environment Agency-approved herbicide and requires dry weather, as well as the soil to remain undisturbed in subsequent years to work.
Weed Wiping Method involves the leaves of the plant being wiped with a sponge that is soaked with the necessary herbicide. It’s a low-impact treatment and doesn’t kill or bother the foliage adjoining it; however, its use is dependent upon how big the area of knotweed is.
Bund/Stockpiling Method is a blended treatment that makes use of stem injection or foliar application. Followed by digging up the underground material and removing the soil and dead stems to a different location where the emergence of ‘new shoots’ can be subjected to additional herbicide application. This approach can be used on sites where you need the removal of the knotweed to be fast and not done over several seasons. It is, consequently, specifically good for building plots and development sites, as work can proceed without delay.
Cell Burial/Root Barrier Method is a treatment used when there is adequate space on site to create a cell burial or to utilise a root barrier to prevent the substantial costs of transporting the soil and Japanese knotweed waste to a landfill. Cell burial buries the knotweed stem fragments and giant knotweed plant to a minimum depth, or if encapsulated inside 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 danger of cross-boundary contamination. Again, this approach is most often used for commercial removal on development sites when building work needs to commence quickly.
Excavation & Removal Off-Site is a legitimate and fast control alternative that has its advantages for development sites if performed correctly; however, many Knotweed control experts are not advocates of it as it raises considerable logistical complications. The challenges are that it comes with a higher than normal chance of invasive knotweed spreading, in addition to the cost of securely and safely transporting the entire root and bamboo-like stems to a designated landfill site. There is also a duty of care required under the Environmental Protection Act (EPA) of 1990. In summary, excavation and removal must only be used as an absolute last resort.
Is knotweed harmful to dogs, cats, and people?
In simple terms, it isn’t poisonous or harmful to dogs, cats, humans, or any other animals, like some other very invasive plants. It’s not harmful to touch; however, always use extreme care when close to it to prevent inadvertently allowing it to spread.
It is known as ‘poisonous’ by developers and homeowners due to its highly invasive growth, ability to spread from any tiny particle left, and how difficult it is to eliminate.
Some Knotweed Misconceptions:
Some of which are exploited by some companies for their financial gain.
- “It will grow through solid concrete.”
- “It will destabilise foundations.”
- “It will cause structural damage.”
- Property affected by this invasive plant is not mortgageable
Essentially, if the previous groundwork or construction has been performed to a satisfactory standard, then knotweed is not going to grow ‘through solid concrete’, it will not destabilise solid foundations, and it is highly unlikely to ‘cause’ structural damage. These claims are misleading, to say the least.
Nonetheless, in certain situations, when the foundations or concrete are old, badly constructed, and have pre-existing cracks or fractures, knotweed will unquestionably make use of any weak point in their pursuit of light and water. It will swiftly establish itself, exacerbating the initial fracture and potentially causing the structure to disintegrate.
Green Leaf Remediation Specialists cover the whole of South Wales (including 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 certified surveyor (JKCS) and a family-run business. We specialise in managing invasive Knotweed, other invasive plant species, and ‘general nuisance weeds’ that are found in the United Kingdom for residential premises and property development sites.
We also offer tree services, such as pollarding, crowning, pruning, and felling, through our NPTC chainsaw operators, all of whom possess a vast amount of practical 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 Knotweed Surveyor’s Training Course
- Qualified Technician (PCAQT) in Japanese Knotweed
- Accredited Surveyor in Japanese Knotweed
While several companies operate within the UK weed control industry who will be respectable, knowledgeable, and thorough professionals, you will regrettably find lots of companies that claim to have the experience, qualifications, and accreditations to eradicate, eliminate, and control the invasive native species and ornamental plants at a low cost. Nonetheless, we would advise anyone to exercise extreme caution and to make sure that the service provider/business you enlist to carry out the control programme is qualified to do so, abides by the industry codes of practice, and has the necessary experience and insurance to do this.
We are an accredited surveyor in Japanese knotweed and have worked with thousands of property owners over the last decade to remove and safely control this invasive weed using specialist herbicide treatments that we are qualified and certified to carry out. Our removal and treatment methods ensure the knotweed rhizomes and underground stems are treated and removed, along with any contaminated soil. We are a licenced waste carrier and will only dispose of the controlled waste at sites that are certified to accept it. Our extensive experience means we know which removal or control method will be an effective control strategy, depending on the growth and property site. We offer a 10-year insurance-backed guarantee for all our removal services and will only start work after we have assessed the knotweed growth and detailed site surveys have been completed.
Call us at the office on 01269 591651 or call the business owner’s mobile on 07531142316 and one of our knotweed experts in Swansea can answer any queries you may have and also arrange a free and no obligation site visit. Customer service is at the heart of what we do, which is why we are a trusted Japanese knotweed specialist in Swansea and Wales.
Japanese Knotweed FAQ’s
Where does knotweed grow?
It is also known as fallopia, bamboo, and peashooters, and it was brought to Europe to be grown in botanical gardens in the middle of the 19th century by a German-born botanist. It was then sold commercially to homeowners, businesses, commercial properties, and gardens, and this is how and when it started to spread within the UK.
The simple answer is that it can grow anywhere. You may think it’s more prevalent in the countryside, however, this is not the case. It is found in towns, cities, and the countryside and will quickly grow and take over if its underground rhizome (underground root) is not controlled.
When should I remove Japanese knotweed?
It should be managed and controlled as soon as you are aware that it is there, as it will spread very quickly. You should not attempt to remove it yourself, as you could cause it to spread even further due to tiny, tiny fragments of crown or rhizome, which will spread quickly and widely. 60% of the knotweed weeds’ roots are underground, so this makes removal very difficult, if not impossible if you don’t have the experience and understanding of effective treatment methods for this invasive weed.
Call us, and one of our Knotweeds specialists in Swansea will arrange a free home survey.
What should you do if you find knotweed Swansea?
If you find or think you have Japanese knotweed and you own the land, it is your responsibility to control it. You should contact a qualified PCAQT person or company who has the experience and knowledge to use the correct method of removal for you and your property, and they will come out to your property and assess it. Japanese knotweed eradication, and disposing of Japanese knotweed plant material without the right experience and knowledge will almost always cause it to spread; therefore, it must be dealt with by a qualified specialist who can advise you on the most effective way to remove it.
The disposal of knotweed is classified as “controlled waste” under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, and this means it has to be disposed of at a licenced landfill site, which is specific to Japanese knotweed removal costs. A knotweed specialist will have the qualifications, experience, and knowledge to remove or control the knotweed before it spreads to a neighbouring garden and is out of control, which is illegal.
What qualifications should a specialist have for the removal or control of knotweed Swansea?
- 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 Knotweed Surveyor’s Training Course
- Qualified Technician (PCAQT) in Japanese Knotweed
- Accredited Surveyor in Japanese Knotweed Management Plan
How do you permanently get rid of knotweed?
There are different methods of removal and control, and a specialist will advise you on the best course of action for your property or land. Above, we have detailed the different control and removal methods. Management and control are the most cost-effective ways of ensuring the knotweed has less of an impact. Complete removal is possible; however, this requires more extreme actions. We will advise on a possible eradication method once we have visited the site.
Will Roundup kill Japanese knotweed?
Roundup has been known to kill knotweed in very few cases; however, it will also kill the plants and grass around it, and it doesn’t have the strength of the chemicals that a specialist would use. Often, knotweed has to be treated over several seasons, and roundup will most likely only kill the foliage and flowers and not get into the roots for complete eradication, which is where and how it spreads so quickly. You will need an NPTC-qualified person to work with any chemicals for an herbicide treatment plan, as a result of new legislation that covers the management, removal, and control of knotweed.
Can I kill Japanese knotweed myself?
It is very unlikely you will kill or eradicate knotweed yourself, and in most cases, when it is attempted without experience, it is more likely to encourage the weed to spread further. You may think you have killed it when you see its hollow stems, which look like canes, out of their main growing season; however, it will still be growing and spreading underground. Normally, around April and May, the knotweed crown buds and shoots start to appear, and by late summer, it will be in full growth above ground.
You should always use a qualified knotweed specialist, as they will have the experience to know the best method of removal and control for your property and your circumstances, as well as using controlled chemicals. They may advise treating over several growing seasons, and this will form part of your Japanese knotweed management plan and your insurance-backed guarantee.
How deep do Japanese knotweed roots go?
Its crown and rhizomes (root system) suppress the plants growing around it, and it spreads extensively and quickly. Well-established shoots often grow more than 3 metres high and can colonise the soil quickly at the height of their dominant growing season. 60% of its roots are in the soil underground and can grow up to 7 metres horizontally from the plant. This is the part of the weed that is most spreadable, and as little as 0.7g will create a new knotweed plant.
Does salt kill knotweed?
Salt does not kill knotweed, and only specialist herbicide chemicals used in a controlled manner by a qualified specialist will eradicate it or control it.
You can us at our offices on 01269 591651 or, as we like to offer personal service, please telephone the business owner’s mobile on 07531142316 and one of our knotweed experts in Swansea can answer any queries you may have and also arrange a site visit.
We work on domestic and commercial sites and are proud of the service we provide to our customers. Preventing the spread of Japanese knotweed will prevent your garden from being taken over and prevent damage to property. If you think you could have knotweed and need our knotweed services, contact us immediately before it takes hold.
