Questions about Knotweed
Check out our FAQs below. If you still have further questions, then get in touch and we can help.
Knotweed is growing next to my house, will it cause any damage?
Japanese Knotweed grows quickly, but it takes the easiest path to allow for maximum growth.
We don’t share scare stories, just the facts. Japanese Knotweed will damage property, walls, fencing, and draining by exploiting any structural weaknesses.
So, if you find Knotweed rearing its head in your front room, then it’s likely there are other structural issues. As Knotweed grows, it turns small weaknesses into big problems.
Plants look for light and moisture. If Knotweed is growing under your house, it might interfere with drainage, pipes, and cabling in its quest for nutrients.
Act quickly before these problems occur. Contact us for more advice.
Can I chop it down or dig it up myself?
No.
Cutting Japanese Knotweed won’t solve your problem, because it will grow back.
To treat the problem, let your Knotweed grow nice and tall so that we can offer the full range of treatment solutions for you.
You can remove Knotweed by digging it up, but it’s not appropriate for most residential properties. Knotweed rhizome below the ground grows to 4.5m deep and 7m wide, requiring a significant dig to extract the plant in its way.
In most residential cases, the most appropriate method for controlling Knotweed is by using a herbicide treatment programme.
My neighbour has Knotweed in their garden, how does this affect me?
It is not an offence for a neighbour to have Knotweed in their garden, but it spreads quickly and easily – so it’s worth discussing the problem with them.
If knotweed reaches your garden, this may affect your home’s property value. Banks and building societies look for knotweed within 7m of a habitable space of your property when surveying for lending purposes – including re-mortgages. Ask your neighbour for reassurance that the plant is being treated.
If treatment is not in place, we suggest sharing our contact details with them so that we can discuss the treatment options available and provide reassurance that Japanese Knotweed control and eradication doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive.
The sooner your neighbour puts a solution in place, the better! Give them our details today.
I want to sell my house and have Japanese Knotweed growing in my garden. What should I do?
Book a Japanese Knotweed Survey with us. We will:
- Confirm whether it is Knotweed
- Explain where the Knotweed is and outline the RICS risk level, which is key information for valuing properties
- Offer cost-effective solutions
DO NOT attempt to conceal the Knotweed. You must declare its existence to buyers, and solicitors will specifically require you to confirm this.
We will provide a Knotweed survey and design a fully tailored treatment plan. With an insurance-backed guarantee, you, a mortgage provider, or other lenders involved in the sale will be reassured that the Knotweed is being treated.
Call us for a Knotweed plan that perfectly suits you.
How long does it take to eradicate Knotweed from my property?
We aim to control/manage Knotweed within 3-5 years after a treatment plan begins. There are some occasions when treatment may take longer, depending on te size of the Knotweed and any previous treatment of the plant or surrounding area.
After three years of treatment, we monitor the site for at least a further two years to prevent regrowth. These visits take place from September, at the end of growth season.
Following two years of no regrowth, we issue a certificate of Completion and begin our guarantee.
Don’t wait until you sell your property or until your neighbour complains – act today and give us a call.
Are your treatment procedures environmentally friendly?
Although we use chemicals to treat and remove Japanese Knotweed, we follow strict guidelines on the chemicals used. Chemical treatment is never used for cosmetic purposes and any chemicals used do not remain in the soil for prolonged periods.
We don’t spray unless weather conditions are appropriate, so chemical use is kept to a minimum.
We always choose the most appropriate treatment method. In most residential cases, the cost of non-chemical treatment is prohibitive and leads to prolonged use of machinery and the removal of waste to landfill.
