South West, UK - What to do and not do if you have Japanese Knotweed on your property

Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica) is an incredibly invasive plant species that can cause serious damage and devaluation to the properties it infests. If you find this destructive weed growing on your land, it’s vitally important to take quick and proper action to deal with it responsibly and legally as a landowner. This guide runs through the key steps you should and shouldn’t take when tackling a Japanese knotweed infestation on your property.

West Country Knotweed is a fully qualified Japanese Knotweed Certificated Surveyor (JKCS) through the Property Care Association and we specialise in the removal, treatment and management of Japanese Knotweed. Contact us today at 0117 321 7799 or complete our contact us form if you need any help or advice.

How to identify Japanese Knotweed on your Property

Japanese knotweed is characterised by its tall, dense clusters of bamboo-like stems and distinct shovel-shaped leaves. It sprouts visibly and spreads rapidly during the spring and summer. Regularly check your property boundaries, gardens, and any areas vulnerable to spread from neighbouring and adjacent properties for signs of Japanese knotweed.

If you do spot Japanese knotweed on your land, thoroughly document its location and extent with photographs and written records. This creates important evidence of the presence and scale of the infestation.

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You should seek the advice of experts if you think you may have Knotweed present as they will have extensive experience and the knowledge to quickly identify it and help you with the treatment, management and control.

Reporting Japanese Knotweed: The Requirements:

If you discover Japanese knotweed growing on your property, you are not legally required under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 to report it to your local council or declare it to your neighbours. However, it is illegal to allow Japanese knotweed to spread into the wild or outside of your property boundaries. If you are selling your property and there is or has been knotweed present then you legally have to declare it to any potential buyers of your property.

If you have knotweed growing onto your property from a neighbouring property then you can and should report it to your local council and ask them for their advice as this is illegal.

Treating Japanese Knotweed at your Property:

Don’t attempt to dig up, cut back, or remove Japanese knotweed yourself by any means. This almost always exacerbates the infestation by spreading the tiny rhizomes which will plant fragments and rapidly grow in other areas. The key is to prevent ongoing spread while controlling and reducing the existing Japanese knotweed in your garden or on your land over time.

You should hire a professional contractor to carry out a Japanese Knotweed survey and assist you to put a Japanese knotweed treatment plan, otherwise known as a JKMP in place.

Contact us today at 0117 321 7799 or complete our contact us form and we will arrange a free and no-obligation site survey for you.