Knotweed Control – Solutions for all

Japanese knotweed infestation can be a real problem for land owners, as a species it is actually listed among the worst invasive plants in the world. It has a resilient and nature, and when left unchecked it can cause expensive damage to building foundations and drainage systems. Introduced into Britain by horticulturists in the late nineteenth century, knotweed was initially valued as an ornamental garden plant. Nowadays however, few people would be pleased to find knotweed growing in their borders alongside their begonias. Due to the expensive building repair bills a knotweed infestation can bring, it is no wonder that so many people are looking for providers who have the expertise to rid their property of this menace.

Structural damage is mainly caused by the plants extensive root network, which occupies a large cubic area. The roots actually grow into any existing permeations in foundations and drainage systems, causing cracks and fissures which worsen with time. Flood defences and driveways are also often damaged.

The knotweed control specialists will initially dispatch a surveyor to assess the extent of your infestation, and determine which control measures are best suited to your grounds. This is an important phase since certain environmental factors can render some approaches unsuitable. Once contracted, the eradication company will provide you with a management plan which highlights precisely where knotweed was found on your grounds, and details the process they will use to eradicate it. Its will also contain a schedule for ongoing monitoring to ensure that re-infestation does not occur.

If you are planning to sell your property, and have a knotweed infestation, it is advisable to get the problem sorted before putting the house on the market rather than leaving it for the next owner. Many mortgage providers will actually refuse to lend against a property that is infested so resolving the issue will actually increase your chance of securing a buyer. Additionally, if you leave the problem unchecked, and the infestation spreads beyond the border of your property, there is common law precedence your neighbours to successfully sue you for unreasonable interference.

Many people mistakenly view knotweed as being like any other weed, they take a trip to their local garden centre and buy domestic herbicides in the belief that this will rid them of the infestation. Successful eradication of knotweed actually requires specialized industrial strength herbicides. Treating the infestation with domestic weed killers only serves to immunize the knotweed, and ultimately increases the number of herbicide treatments a specialist will need to apply.