Japanese knotweed is a main source of gardening gripe throughout the year. Not only does it take over beautifully landscaped areas, it can destroy walls and cause buildings to crumble.
Earlier this month, Ben Metcalfe from Stockport had £20,000 knocked off the value of his house after a surveyor discovered the dangerous plant growing nearby.
Introduced to Britain during the Victorian era, it was thought of as an ornamental plant. Its luscious vegetation and delicate flowers can make it seem that way – however knotweed is a pest intent on spreading its vines as far as they will go.
Its complex system of roots allows the plant to bury down up to nine feet deep, making it extremely difficult to kill off.
While many people have tried to tackle the problem with everyday weed killers and manual tools, Japanese knotweed often outwits even the smartest gardener.
MowDIRECT has some top tips to restore your garden to its former glory.
Try a glyphosate-based weed killer to hit those deep penetrating areas. The chemical passes through the foliage to soak down into the roots. Using this method it could take up to four seasons to eradicate the plant, however professional help can be employed at a cost to cut this time in half.
Cut down stems during the winter months to give you greater access to the plant for spraying, as during spring and summer the foliage may become unmanageable. Japanese knotweed can grow to be seven feet tall.
However, digging knotweed up by the roots is also an option. Disposal is the main issue here as the plant is classed as a "controlled waste" product under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
Make sure that you do not through the plant onto any green waste heap as this gives it ample opportunity to take root once more. Allow the root to dry out for four days before mixing with other plant excess, or burn for maximum effect.
