Householder should be aware of the issue before it’s too late.
Gardeners may not be aware of Japanese Knotweed(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Householders are being warned of a ‘ticking time bomb’ which may be growing in your garden. According to experts at PropertyMarket, if you have Japanese Knotweed near your home, you should act now.
The pesky plant has a deceivingly harmless appearance, but if left undetected, it can have costly impacts on your property. During the summer months, the East Asian plant grows rapidly, usually by around 10cm per day, causing some serious damage along the way.
It is easy to mistake this plant as a pleasant addition to your garden, but it is important to address its presence as a priority. As well as growing rapidly, it can reach heights of around three metres and burrows deep underground.
Japanese Knotweed can force its way through expansion joints in concrete, cavity walls, weaknesses in the damaged mortar between paving slabs or bricks, and it can also hinder drains and sewers.
If left unaddressed, it can also potentially cause substantial structural damage, especially to properties that are more vulnerable, such as character homes. The plant, described by the PropertyMarket experts as a “ticking time bomb”, reportedly causes over £170million in damages to properties each year.
It can be helpful to seek expert advice to help plan an effective treatment regime for Japanese Knotweed and to help minimise any potential return.
Japanese Knotweed(Image: Getty Images)
If you haven’t heard about Japanese Knotweed or don’t know what it looks like, then it is very easy to miss it in your garden.
“This plant has various growth stages throughout the year, which can make it hard to identify. In the spring, it will have red or purple asparagus-type shoots, quickly transforming into green or bamboo-like stems, but then in the early summer, it is usually fully grown at three metres high.
By this time of year, the plant flowers will produce clusters of spiky stems in tiny creamy-white flowers. The leaves are luscious green and show their unique flat, shovel, or heart-shaped appearance.
During the late autumn and winter, the leaves drop, and the canes become dark brown. The Japanese knotweed then remains dormant during the winter months before coming back to life in spring.
The correct treatment will depend on a variety of factors. However, there are normally two methods to beat the issue: herbicide treatment or physical removal through excavation.
A severe Japanese Knotweed infestation can make your home significantly harder to sell and can lower the value of your property.
Buyers may look to renegotiate the initial offer for any property, if they know they will need to spend time and money eradicating any of the plant.
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However, most UK lenders will still potentially lend to consumers if they can feel assured that the problem can be treated effectively.
Michael Holden, a former NAEA Propertymark president, said: “When buying a home, the key issue is to make sure that you ask the vendor and the estate agent as to whether the property has had any present or historic issues with Japanese Knotweed or invasive plant species generally.
“Bamboo, for example is now becoming more of a concern. Where there are potential issues, it is advisable that a specialist survey is undertaken to identify invasive plants in the property’s garden and any other matters that would require further investigation.”
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