LANDSCAPE AND GROUNDS MAINTENANCE KNOTTY PROBLEM ins the challenges faced by facilities managers in eradicating this most pesky of plants.
However, updates to the guidance documents now specifically name Japanese Knotweed alongside Himalayan Balsam and Giant Hogweed as a source of “serious problems” and state that an individual failing to control the troublesome triffid will have committed a criminal offence.
Indeed, the government has reformed the Anti Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, so that community protection notices can be used against individuals who are acting unreasonably and who persistently or continually act in a way that has a detrimental effect on the quality of life of those in the locality. Meaning if you fail to deal with the problem you could end up with an ASBO.
For corporates, the cost on non-compliance can run into the tens of thousands of pounds, indeed we have heard of one case involving just 1sq m of knotweed which resulted in an out of court settlement £50,000. Due to the significant pay outs involved, it is no surprise that lawyers are jumping in on the act and also using private nuisance laws to pursue claims.
Surveying and removing Japanese Knotweed Getting rid of Japanese Knotweed can be a complicated and time-consuming process. If left untreated, it will
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spread quickly and the damage it can cause to foundations and buildings can be extremely costly.
The best solution is to contact a professional removal company as soon as you have identified it on your property so that an effective maintenance or removal plan can be established. Of course, as Knotweed removal specialists, we would say that. But if you are considering tackling the problem yourself, here are a few things you need to know.
Japanese Knotweed can grow up to 10cm a day with roots burrowing down as deep as three metres. For this reason, it is important to get started on removing it as soon as possible
No infestation of Japanese Knotweed is the same. Different solutions for removing Japanese Knotweed include herbicide treatment, stem injection, excavating infected areas of ground with machinery, or a Japanese Knotweed root barrier to halt the spread of the irksome weed.
Once removed, Japanese Knotweed needs to be disposed of to ensure it can’t regrow. Off-site burial can be expensive since the soil is classified as controlled waste in the UK, a sifting and screening service removes fragments of the root and rhizomes from the soil, which means less waste and a lower cost.
www.thegroundscaregroup.co.uk TOMORROW’S FM | 37
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