Bought a House with Japanese Knotweed?

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Llandrindod Wells and the wider Mid Wales area has a lot of Invasive Plant Species causing problems. Often people don’t realise they have a problem until it takes over their property. As we approach the Spring and Summer these plants will become more evident in your garden or grounds.



In this article and accompanying pictures, I hope to give you some insight into establishing if you have these plants on your property, and what you should consider doing.



The Victorians introduced many Invasive Plant Species into the UK as a screening plant for their gardens. Their extensive root structures also helped to hold railway banks firm. Little did they know of the problems and damage these plants would cause once they took a firm hold in the UK.



For people who are suffering from problems with Japanese Knotweed and similar Invasive Plant Species on their property, it can be a nightmare finding out that you have an issue. Not only can it wreck your garden, in severe cases it can totally take over it, causing damage to both hard structures and surfaces.

Here are a few of the Invasive Plant Species that can cause you a problem:
• 
Japanese Knotweed - (Fallopia Japonica)

• Giant Knotweed - (Fallopia Sachalinensis)
• Bohemian Knotweed - (Fallopia Bohemica)
• Himalayan Knotweed - (Persicaria Wallichii)

• Himalayan Balsam - (Impatiens Glandulifera)



These Invasive Plant Species are classed as controlled plants under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. It is not illegal for you to have Japanese knotweed (or similar species) on your property, but it is against UK law to cause or allow the plant to spread to your neighbours or into the wild.

If you have an Invasive Plant Species on your property, it is not a problem you should ignore. This is because the problem will only get worse. Mortgage lenders are very unlikely to lend to a potential buyer and this will make it very hard to sell a property with this sort of problem. Property surveyors will highlight an issue to your potential purchaser.

The root structure of many of the Knotweeds are extensive and they can travel long distances underground. This will cause it to potentially spread to neighbouring properties as well.

Due to the extensive root structure, this makes the plant very hardy and difficult to eradicate quickly. A treatment and monitoring programme will need to be implemented to interrupt the annual growing cycle of the plant. Even when it appears that the problem has been resolved the roots can remain dormant for a number of years before reappearing.



I have been aware of people paying thousands through fear to have a Japanese Knotweed (or similar species) treated. This should not be the case.



If you have a Japanese Knotweed or other Invasive Plant Species problem, this is what you should and shouldn’t do:

Things You Must Not Do:

- Don’t Panic.
- Don’t Cut It Down. (This could stimulate the roots and increase the problem).

- Don’t Try And Hide It.

- Don’t Ignore It.

- Don’t Try And Treat It Yourself From Reading Untrustworthy Sources On The Internet.

- Don’t Build Over It.

- Don’t Put A Weed Membrane And Stone Dressing Over It. (That Won’t Work).


Things You Must Do:

- You Must Take Positive Action.

- You Should Get Professional Advice. (I can help)

- You Have A Legal Duty To Deal With The Problem.

- Legally You Must Not Allow It To Spread, Especially To Adjoining Properties.

- You Need To Have A Professional Treatment And Monitoring Plan In Place.

- You Should Have A Professional Treat The Problem With The Correct And Effective Herbicides, In A Controlled And Legal Manner.



When you get Professional Advice, you will be far more at ease with the problem. The reality is it will not be a quick resolve. This is another reason why you should not delay dealing with the problem. But it should also not cost vast amounts of money to resolve the issue.



If you have read this far. Your next step is to contact me to help deal with the problem.



I look forward to hearing from you.


Jamie Jones

Jamie’s Garden Services


Many people panic when they find out they have an invasive Knotweed Plant Species Issue.

Don’t panic... Get expert advice From a Competent & Qualified Person.

What will Jamie’s Garden Services do for you?

Once we have received contact from you the following will happen:

• Jamie will contact you to discuss the problem.

• A site visit will be arranged.

•On looking at the infestation we can talk about: 

a) Identify what species of knotweed it is.

b) What the infestation is doing.

c) How it will affect your property.

d) Look at identifying where it can from. 

e) What effects an infestation can physically and financially have on your property. 

f) Talk about how we can move forward with dealing with the infestation.

g) Produce a Treatment Plan to deal with the Infestation. 

What will a ‘Treatment Plan’ contain?

The ‘Treatment Plan’ is a document that will:

• Document the scale of the infestation.

• Contain Photographs of the current Infestation.

• Explain how the species you have spreads and what happens when it does.

• Explains how an infestation can have an effect on your property.

• Document the source of the problem (if possible).

• Outline what treatment will be best to eradicate the problem.

• Give a programme of how the problem will be treated.

• Documented a timescale of how the treatment will be implemented.

• How treatments will be followed up.

• How the infestation will be monitored during the treatment programme.

• What needs to be done once the it appears the problem has been resolved. 

• What ongoing monitoring will be required.

• What future reports will be done and how they will assist you.

• An outline of what costs will be involved with treating the infestation.

• Terms and Conditions.

At this point it moves on to treating the Knotweed infestation.

Why do I need to document this treatment process?

* Should you wish to sell your property/land.

• Develop on  the land. 

• Comply with declarations to mortgage lenders or home insurance companies

• Comply with the LAW,  (Country Side and Wild Life Act in preventing its spread).

You will need documented proof that you have undertaken all the correct actions to controls and prevent the spread of an invasive plant species.

That a Qualified and Competent person has overtaken the work.

A documented treatment plan, Treatment Process, Monitoring of the infestation will be your your proof that the problem has been dealt with, or is being dealt with.

I should point out that dealing with an invasive species infestation is not a quick fix. It does take time and you will need to be patient.

Many people have asked me if it is expensive to deal with a Japanese Knotweed infestations?

I always answer it. In the following way... I have seen some shocking figures bounded about on the internet for what people have been charged and for was was undertaken. 

For conventional  treatment processes and if customer has not interfered and made the task harder, then no it is not expensive. There is a cost and I would say that it is a moderate cost. 

But you should be aware that it will take a few years for treatment and monitoring. I invoice for work undertaken as and when it is done on set fees that will be outlined in the treatment plan and discussed on the first site inspection.

If you want a very quick fix then yes it will be very expensive. This is because all the solid containing it will need to be excavated, Securely transported in sealed containers, and processed. (This service I don’t offer.)

To discuss a Japanese Knotweed (or another Invasive Plant Species) problem, arrange a site visit, start a treatment plan. Please make contact with Jamie’s Garden Services using the below form.

See Below:

What To Do If You Think You Have Japanese, Giant, Bohemian and Himalayan Knotweed On or Near Your Property:

This is what you should do.

- Contact a professional who is qualified to treat and manage Invasive Weed Control and can deliver efficient, effective and reliable treatment plan.
- Do not ignore Japanese, Giant, Bohemian and Himalayan Knotweed or Himalayn Balsam when you see it in your garden, building plot, a neighbours garden or adjoining land.
- It can grow very quickly at a rate of 10cm a day and the costs will grow to treat the problem as the infestation spreads.

If you have an 'Invasive Plant Species' problem on your property. Don't delay getting in touch straight away, because you need a treatment plan putting into place.