‘Don’t dig it up’ warns gardening pro as Japanese knotweed takes over homes – here’s how to get rid of it properly
A GARDENING expert has revealed the best way to get rid of dreaded Japanese knotweed – and you definitely shouldn’t dig it up.
There are thought to be more than 50,000 infestations of the invasive plant in the UK, but you could face a hefty fine if you don’t deal with it properly.
The plant has bamboo-like stems and produces clusters of small white flowers and spreads rapidly – it can also cause significant damage to property and infrastructure.
It is difficult to eradicate once it has become established.
The experts say it is important to bring in professional help to remove it, as even the smallest piece left in the ground can regrow.
But gardening expert Dave, known as Dave the plant man on social media has shared a trick to help.
Posting on TikTok the pro explained: “If you don’t let it get any leaves on [it and] stop it from ever leafing, the roots will die eventually.”
He also warned homeowners against digging the plant up as this is how it spreads.
Instead, “cropping it like asparagus” will help keep it under control, without risking it spreading further.
Fines for the Japanese knotweed can go up to £34,000, but a recent lawsuit against a seller whose property had the plant came to £200,000.
If a landowner has knotweed growing in the garden of their property they should make every effort to control the knotweed and prevent the weed from spreading onto a neighbouring property.
If they fail to do this they could be held responsible for the damage caused by the encroachment.
According to Gov.uk there are other ways to treat Japanese Knotweed.
This includes spraying it with approved herbicides, the website states: “You’ll have to respray. It usually takes at least 3 years to treat Japanese knotweed.
“Knotweed rhizome can remain dormant in the soil for many years and will regrow if disturbed or if the soil is relocated.”
In some cases you can also bury Japanese knotweed, however you must notify the Environment Agency at least one month beforehand.
Japanese knotweed hotspots
Invasive plant specialists Environet UK have released a heatmap that you can use to see if your property is in a high-risk area.
It shows London, Merseyside and Lancashire, Bristol, most of Wales and Glasgow as the danger zones.
It allows people to search by postcode to discover the number of reported sightings nearby or to report any new sightings.
For example, in Tottenham, North London, there are 232 reported infestations within a 4km area.
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