Can I obtain a guarantee for the works?
Yes, the Invasive Plant Company can provide a third party insurance backed guarantee for all of our works/treatment methods. Insurance terms are based on a 5 or 10 year period and cover both residential and commercial properties.
Can my gardener spray the plants instead?
Some landscape companies do hold the license that is required to spray chemicals, however very few have the required experience to deal with Japanese Knotweed and other more problematic invasive species. In addition, such contractors are rarely able to offer a warranty and insurance backed guarantee on their works.
Can Japanese Knotweed be killed with just one treatment?
In certain situations it is possible that a single chemical treatment (either foliar applied or direct injection) can kill Japanese Knotweed. However, it is not advisable to expect an instant eradication – Any specialist in invasive species should always make this clear to the client.We would always recommend a follow-up treatment strategy, which allows for the contractor to return to site and monitor progress.
Can I get a mortgage on my property when it has an infestation?
Always check with your mortgage provider first.
Every mortgage provide has their own individual approach but, providing you have work carried out by a professional company who can provide the necessary warranties, we find that mortgage companies are usually prepared to lend on properties infested with Japanese Knotweed.
It is however worth noting that some mortgage companies will not mortgage any property with (or near to) Japanese Knotweed infestations. We have been made aware of cases where funding has been refused due to infestations situated 30 metres away from the property boundary, although in our experience such cases are rare.
Why is it problematic? Why should I be worried?
Japanese Knotweed has no natural predators in the UK, and grows to the preclusion of all native species. It is a very hardy plant, which cannot be killed by simply cutting it down. The plant can cause damage to hard structures including walls, tarmac and other hard surfaces by exposing weaknesses; it can also block or damage man-made drains.
Japanese Knotweed tends to exploit existing weaknesses in structures and will usually penetrate through easy routes to sunlight, such as mortar between bricks, joins between concrete slabs and gaps between fencing or paving slabs.
This species has also been shown to be responsible for blocking natural drainage and reducing light levels on watercourses, as well as reducing biodiversity in natural ecosystems.
The Japanese Knotweed root system is extensive and the UK Environment Agency research has shown that beyond the growth that you can see above the ground, the plant can extend up to 3 metres vertically down, and up to 7 metres horizontally outward.
The plant has been known to enter a dormant state, often when it is overdosed with herbicide. Incredibly, re-growth from this dormant state has been observed after over twenty years in “hibernation”.