Japanese knotweed removal is a huge problem, and one of the biggest threats to commercial and domestic developments in the UK. Introduced from Asia in the mid nineteenth century as an ornamental plant, the weed is a huge problem today. This problem of Japanese knotweed removal is made more difficult by the highly invasive nature of the species and the relatively little knowledge about the problems it poses.
The government has actually placed the total cost of eradicating the knotweed at more than one billon pounds. The plant poses such a large threat despite the fact that it does not usually produce viable seed in the United Kingdom, as all the introduced plants were female. Instead, Japanese knotweed spreads entirely by vegetative means, through small pieces of stem and root cuttings. Thus, it is essential to not spread the roots on sites to help minimise the problem, enabling easier and quicker eradication.
The reason why Japanese knotweed is such a problem for the development industry relates to more than just the ability for it to spread from small pieces of root material. The plant, which typically springs up in April, can grow up to three or four inches a day and can damage foundations, drains, and even walls. It can add thousands of pounds to site costs, and can grow anywhere on all sites across the United Kingdom. As they originate from harsh environments like the volcanic deserts around Mount Fuji, the plant completely beat our native vegetation because it is so used to harsh conditions. The problem of even a small amount of the weed should not go unchecked due to its fast growth and its high voracity meaning it can grow to form a new plant from a fragment of root smaller than one gramme! This means the plant is very common on sites that are disturbed by human activity and this includes a lot of areas where development is planned.
Japanese knotweed eradication should start with marking out infested areas which do not need to be disturbed with a buffer to prevent further spread. A range of methods to remove the Japanese knotweed can be employed depending on site and client requirements. However, the problem should not be underestimated and it is wise to seek expert advice regarding a knotweed problem and the legal requirements to stop it spreading. This should be done as soon as the problem is found, to find out the best way to eradicate the invasive weed without impacting on development plans. |
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