South Wales, UK - Japanese Knotweed FAQ’s discussed by South Wales Knotweed Removal

What is Japanese Knotweed?

Japanese Knotweed can sometimes be referred to as Fallopia Japonica, Bamboo and Peashooters and it is a perennial weed that grows and can spread quickly from one tiny fragment of crown or rhizome if it isn’t controlled. It’s crown and rhizomes (root system) suppress other plants growing around and it spreads extensively and quickly underground. Well-established shoots can grow more than 3 metres high and can colonize the soil within a few years. In the height of its predominant growing season, 60% of its roots are in the soil underground so removal is very difficult. All of this makes the Japanese Knotweed weed one of the UK’s most invasive non-native plants.

Removing Knotweed without having extensive knowledge, experience and using the right chemicals results in a high chance of it spreading to other parts of the soil which were previously unaffected and this is why Japanese Knotweed has such a reputation in the UK.

Where has Japanese knotweed been found in the UK?

Japanese knotweed is found all over the UK and is common in both urban and rural areas, In South Wales, there are high-density areas including Swansea and the surrounding areas.

How to identify Knotweed?

Japanese knotweed leaves can be identified by their shovel-shaped or heart-shaped leaves. They have a point at the tip and are staggered on the stem, with one stem per node which creates a zig-zag stem growth pattern. They are a bright and rich green colour and can grow up to 20cm long.

Japanese knotweed flowers are long clusters of creamy white flowers which appear towards the end of summer early September. The clusters can grow to around 0.5cm wide and up to 10cm long. The leaves remain as they are as the flowers grow which result in thick and dense foliage.

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Japanese knotweed rhizomes are the part of the plant that grows extensively underground and they are known as its underground roots. The outside of the stem is dark brown and the inside is orange/yellow in colour. The fresh stems will be crisp like and will snap easily when bent. The rhizomes can grow up to 3 metres in-depth and up to 7 metres horizontally from the plant. This is the part of the weed that is most likely to make it spread and just one tiny fragment, as little as 0.7g can create a new knotweed plant.

Japanese knotweed stems can grow up to 2 – 3 metres tall, sometimes more and they are similar to Bamboo hence why it is often referred to as bamboo. They have nodes and purple speckles and the leaves grow outwards from the nodes in a zig-zag type pattern. As the weed matures the stems inside become hollow making them easy to snap in two and during the winter the stems become very brittle.

How do you get rid of Knotweed?

Japanese Knotweed is almost impossible to control and remove yourself but a qualified NPTC person or company who has the experience and knowledge to use the right chemical substances can advise you of the best and most efficient way of removing it. Disposal is a problem as it is classed as “controlled waste” under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, and this means it has to be disposed of at a licensed landfill site at a cost which a Knotweed Specialist will have the qualifications to do.

Read our full Japanese Knotweed FAQ’s here: southwalesknotweedremoval.co.uk/japanese-knotweed-faqs/