It may come with innocent-looking red and green flowers but Japanese Knotweed has shown its true colours as a hard-to-kill pest whose quick growing stems can even grow through cracked concrete, tarmac and brickwork.
Now, Neath Port Talbot Council is offering a Japanese Knotweed Management and Treatment Service via its website to help people in the area deal with the runaway plant which is so tenacious it can exacerbate structural problems.
The highly invasive weed (Fallopia japonica) was brought to Britain from the Far East by Victorian explorers and introduced as an ornamental plant in the early 19th Century.
But it burst from manicured gardens, shading out and choking its rivals. Even when chopped into bits, tiny parts of Japanese Knotweed can turn themselves into whole new plants.
As a result it is highly recommended people do not try to treat Japanese Knotweed themselves as ineffective treatment can spread the plant further and could be dangerous for humans, pets and wildlife.
The council’s treatment service can be reached via their website at https://www.npt.gov.uk/japaneseknotweed
It is only a “paid-for” service rather than dealing with complaints about neighbouring properties (which are Civil law issues, or private disputes). It is also restricted at present to residential gardens.
The council can however be invited onto land by landowners to initially give a quotation. If land owners accept the quote, and wish to proceed they pay online and the council will attend and provide a management and treatment plan, and commence treatment.
Treatment via herbicides, will usually take a number of years- annual treatments during the growing seasons are considered the most effective.
Councillor Des Davies, Neath Port Talbot Council’s Cabinet member for community safety and protection, said:
“Once booked and paid, we will create a management and treatment plan for the site involved and undertake initial treatment. Additional treatments are also charged for – usually in subsequent years.”
Prices will vary on the size and nature of the knotweed problem and will range from £325 for an initial treatment to £1,075 for a 5 year treatment plan, with a breakdown of prices on their website.
When Japanese Knotweed is identified on a property, a mortgage provider will often refuse to lend. Some mortgage providers may lend only if a management plan is in place. This is because the knotweed is an unacceptable risk to certain lenders. Japanese Knotweed, if left untreated, can cause significant damage and depreciation to property.
Despite Japanese Knotweed having a fearsome reputation it can be treated.
