Japanese Knotweed Surrey

INVASIVE WEED CONTROL – SURREY

Several invasive plants or weeds can cause a major problem to your home or business in Surrey. Japanese knotweed is a common problem in Surrey and requires immediate specialist treatment to control it effectively.

Contact us on 01737 668603 or 07772541778 for advice on effective control measures.

For your peace of mind all control measures are carried out in accordance with the Environment Agency Code of Practice.

Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica)

Japanese knotweed is a tall, vigorous ornamental plant that escaped from cultivation in the late nineteenth century to become an aggressive invader in the urban and rural environment.

Japanese knotweed is a member of the dock family. It is a rhizomatous (produces underground stems) perennial plant with distinctive branching, hollow, bamboo-like stems, covered in purple speckles, often reaching 2-3 m high.

The leaves of the mature plant are up to 120 mm in length with a flattened base and pointed tip and are arranged on arching stems in a zig-zag pattern. The plant flowers late in the season, August to October, with small creamy-white flowers hanging in clusters from the leaf axils (point at which the leafjoins with the stem). The underground rhizomes are thick and woody with a knotty appearance and when broken reveal a bright orange-coloured centre.

During winter, the leaves die back to reveal orange/brown coloured woody stems which may stayerect for several years.

Stem and leaf material decomposes slowly, leaving a deep layer of plant litter. During March to April, the plant sends up new shoots, red/purple in colour with rolled back leaves. These shoots grow rapidly due to stored nutrients in the extensive rhizome system.

Growth rates of up to 40 mm a day have been recorded.

If you become aware of Japanese knotweed on the land of your Surrey property you should contact us so that we can put a suitable management programme in place for the effective control of this invasive plant.

For advice on the effective control of Japanese knotweed in Surrey contact us on 01737 668603 or 07772541778