The Danger Of Japanese Knotweed

Japanese Knotweed (Fallopia Japonica) may look small and contained but don't underestimate the scale of the problem it can potentially cause. The plant can extend 2–3 metres high and up to two metres deep and will exploit any weakness in the fabric of a building in its quest for water and light.

It will push its way through expansion joints in concrete, cavity walls, weaknesses in the broken mortar between paving slabs or bricks and can also damage drains and sewers. While structural damage is rare in most residential situations, if left unchecked, a mature infestation of Japanese Knotweed can become critical. Get an expert to assess the situation as soon as possible.

What does it look like?

Japanese Knotweed looks quite different at its various growth stages throughout the year which can make it difficult to identify. The best way though is through the leaves which are heart or shovel-like in shape.

Spring - Red or purple asparagus type shoots will appear, quickly turning into green bamboo-like stems, which grow at a rapid rate.

Early summer - Japanese Knotweed is usually fully grown, shooting up to three metres in height and will start to spread rapidly.

Late summer - The plant flowers, developing clusters of spiky stems covered in tiny creamy-white flowers. The leaves are luscious green and display their distinctive flat, shovel or heart shaped appearance.

Late autumn & winter - The leaves fall and the canes turn dark brown. The plant then remains dormant during the winter months before sprouting back to life in spring.

How to treat Japanese Knotweed

There are two ways to tackle the problem: herbicide treatment, or physical removal through excavation. The right solution will depend on a number of factors such as site conditions, budget, time scale and future plans for the site. An initial discussion with an eradication expert should help to clarify the extent of the problem. They will consider your situation and outline all the pros and cons of the options available to you.

In most cases, they will ask for photos but for larger areas and commercial development sites, a good contractor will be keen to come and see it for themselves before quoting. Ask them for a pre-sale site survey to confirm the extent of the problem and the cost to resolve it.

Check the work is guaranteed

Most companies offer a guarantee—check the small print—these guarantees are not yet insurance backed but may rely on professional indemnity insurance should things go wrong. Even more importantly, make sure you have a detailed post-treatment management plan with your chosen contractor. It's easy to negate a guarantee for instance by disturbing the soil within a year of herbicide treatment.

Will Japanese Knotweed come back?

Depending on the treatment method (more notably with herbicide treatments) there is a possibility of some minor regrowth, but this should be covered in any post-treatment management plan. Regrowth is initially weak and if dealt with swiftly and correctly, won't pose much of a problem.

Can a house sale proceed without treating Japanese Knotweed?

It is virtually impossible to secure finance on land or property with Japanese Knotweed on or adjacent to it. In most cases, this means there's no deal until the problem is dealt with. However, UK banks and lending institutions are usually satisfied if an approved contractor can guarantee the treatment of the problem. If a buyer is faced with the cost of eradicating the Japanese Knotweed, they will negotiate it off the price.

Sourced from: NAEA Propertymark