Japanese knotweed eradication is a notoriously difficult plant to eradicate from your garden. It has a deep root structure and if it is not killed, it will continue to grow and can cause significant damage to structures such as drains, walls and roads. Small clumps can be removed by a keen amateur gardener but large infestations require a professional. If you are planning to buy a property with Japanese knotweed on it, your mortgage lender will usually require a management plan and guarantee of its complete eradication.

As a result of its biological vigour and competitive advantage, knotweed forms dense thickets that exclude ground flora and impede the growth of competing plants. It also damages natural habitats by growing up streamsides, smothering native vegetation, and causing erosion. Its coarse rhizomes can break apart and colonize scoured banks faster than the fine roots of native trees and grasses.

Eradicating Japanese Knotweed: Strategies for Successful Removal

Chemical controls are used to kill the plants but these can have a wide range of detrimental effects on the environment, including the gut bacteria of important pollinating insects. They can also be harmful to people and pets, so care should be taken when using them.

The best approach to controlling Japanese knotweed is to use a combination of techniques throughout the year. This may involve covering the site with tarps or spraying the weed with herbicide. If you decide to use herbicides, it is important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully and ensure that the product is licensed for the area you are working in. It is illegal to include knotweed in home-compost or council-run green waste bins, so it should be bagged up and burned or disposed of at an approved landfill site.