The invasive plant can cause significant damage to properties and can be notoriously difficult to get rid of
Japanese knotweed(Image: Getty Images)
Gardeners across the country have been warned to act immediately if they notice ‘small white or cream flowers’ appearing in their gardens this month.
Plant expert Pauraic Larkin has issued an urgent warning that the invasive Japanese knotweed will soon become far harder to spot in gardens throughout the nation.
This is because winter weather causes the “above ground spread” to diminish, despite the plant continuing to grow underground. The destructive weed impacts millions of properties across Ireland and the UK each year.
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In an exclusive interview with Reach PLC, Pauraic explained why the plant represents such a serious danger to gardens and properties.
He said: “It is incredibly aggressive and its root system can break through brick, tarmac and poor concrete structures. It has a huge financial impact and spreads like mad. It can destroy building tarmac and concrete, but it can also destabilise foundations, draining systems and river banks.”
November offers the perfect window to tackle the plant, as flowers emerge during autumn making it easier to identify.
Explaining how to recognise it, Pauraic, from Japanese Knotweed Control Ltd, said: “The easiest way to check is to look out for the core characteristics.”
Japanese knotweed(Image: Getty Images)
“It has bamboo-like stems with purple or red speckles, which grow in a zig-zag pattern and can reach up to three metres in height.
“Small white or cream coloured flowers appear in late summer and throughout autumn. In winter the above ground foliage dies back leaving brown brittle hollow stems protruding from the crown.”
However, simply cutting it down won’t solve the problem, Pauraic explained. “If you were to remove it and place it on un-infected soil, it will sprout new roots and continue to grow in that area as well,” he added.
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“You should report it to a professional. While legally you can have knotweed and leave it, it is illegal to not act to prevent it from spreading to your neighbour’s garden or public areas.”
What is illegal about Japanese knotweed?
Under the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 legislation, “any person who plants, disperses, allows or causes to disperse, spreads or otherwise causes to grow Japanese knotweed” shall be guilty of an offence.
Those found guilty of an offence could face a Class A penalty, which may result in a fine of up to €5,000 or imprisonment for up to six months.
For more severe charges, fines reaching €500,000 can be imposed alongside imprisonment for up to three years.
How to remove Japanese knotweed
A licence is required to remove and dispose of Japanese Knotweed, and contractors employed to carry out this work should be aware of this requirement. It’s recommended to first seek expert advice on proper management, particularly regarding disposal.
Suggestions may then include herbicide treatment, physical removal (which can be hazardous if any fragments reach untreated soil) or a combination of both methods.
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