Mancunians exasperated with battling the scourge of Japanese knotweed on their properties no longer have to worry as, finally, there is real help at hand. So you can put down that spade, herbicide and anything else in your weed-busting arsenal, and get back to a life free from the ravages of an insatiable plant.
You only have to pick up the nearest newspaper to read ongoing strife among homeowners trying to get rid of an infestation of this rapidly growing, non-native weed. Once it takes root and starts shooting up all over the place, trying to get rid of it yourself will cause you nothing but headaches. Proper removal of Japanese knotweed, it turns out, is an endless task if you’re trying to do it yourself.
Simply slashing what’s above ground down won’t, unfortunately, do the job. The deep and extensive root system will keep sending new shoots up to take their pace and the more you cut it back, the more voracious is grows. If not properly dealt with, soon Japanese knotweed will overwhelm a property and even cause structural damage.
Japanese knotweed responsibilities
It’s not just unsightly growth in a garden or damage to a property that people in Manchester need to be concerned about. There’s also the matter of the law. If the weed is growing somewhere on your property and you allow it to spread onto neighbouring land, you could be in trouble. This includes removing the plant from your land and improperly disposing of it, so that is starts to grow again out in the wild.
Punitive measures for people who allow this to happen include being given a community protection notice and possible prosecution. A successful prosecution could result in a large fine of up to £5,000, or as much as two years in prison. Despite these harsh measures, not everyone in Manchester or around the wider UK is aware of their obligations.
Just under half of homeowners surveyed for a new Environet/YouGov survey on Japanese knotweed and the problems it causes knew they had a duty to prevent the weed from encroaching onto neighboring properties. Plus, only one in five were aware they could be hit with an ASBO if that occurred. Clearly, however, it is best if the weed is not on a property in the first place, so there is no risk to the building or to neighbours.
Removal of Japanese knotweed: what to do?
If people in Manchester want to get rid of Japanese knotweed from their properties, there is only one real option: calling in the people who are qualified in the removal of japanese knotweed. It can be done in a relatively low-cost way, but that takes some time to kill off the weed — or the entire plant system can quickly be dug up and disposed of, properly. These advances in eradicating Japanese knotweed are now possible because of extensive research into control measures in recent years.
Just as importantly, the top companies specialising in the removal of Japanese knotweed in the UK today provide their customers with an insurance-backed guarantee. It’s usually for five years and can be extended to a decade. That’s enough to provide peace of mind to every homeowner, as well as those intending to sell or buy. Mortgage providers will usually insist that professional extermination be carried out before approving an application.
So look out for signs you may have Japanese knotweed on your property and, if you do, take action now before waiting around for a growing problem.
