survey found japanese knotweed

TheGardener

boltos1 wrote: »

that a management plan would cost 2500 over three years..

That's cowboy land for the quantity you have described...for that price I'd expect acres of the stuff killed - get a quote from someone reputable - speak to one of your local councils environmental team managers - they'll point you in the direction of someone.

openspace

We had almost exactly the same issue last year. One plant of knotweed was spottedin next doors garden on a survey. It could just be seen poking over the fence (The actual plant was almost 2m high). We got the price knocked down and went for it anyway after the seller arranged to have the plant sprayed and guaranteed. That was almost exactly one year ago. This year there has been almost no regrowth of the plant at all. We saw 2 tiny (5cm) shoots growing near the original plant and no real regrowth. They came back to spray that again a month ago, no further evidence of growth this year.

I know people can say it is a nightmare to treat but that is not my experience. I would be surprised to see any more growth next year, and the guy who sprayed it agreed it was on its last legs already. Even if it does come back it is not that much bother to spray it and you can get the powerful stuff to kill it yourself if you wanted. (search online - GALLUP HI-AKTIV 490 CONCENTRATE)

I would personally get a deal from the seller and go for it. As long as you are planning on staying a few years I, and you have the neighbors on board, then it is not too hard to manage if a only a small plant. I think knotweed worries are blown out of proportion.

boltos1

I met with the vendor and the knotweed man at the house today. The vendor agreed to pay for the treatment (2.5k) the knotweed man did the first spray there and then.

I get the management plan and guarantee. so were still going ahead with the sale

deFoix

boltos1 wrote: »

I met with the vendor and the knotweed man at the house today. The vendor agreed to pay for the treatment (2.5k) the knotweed man did the first spray there and then.

I get the management plan and guarantee. so were still going ahead with the sale

Well as long as you're not paying. Realistically that guarantee is not worth anything other than it gives all parties a warm fuzzy feeling that something has been done about it. I would have written you a guarantee and come and sprayed it for you for a tenth of that price.

What exactly does the "Plan" say; he'll come back and give it a quick spray next year?

Ideally the Knotweed Man should have waited and sprayed it later in the summer for maximum effect but he's clearly a "professional" who is an "expert" at dealing with these matters so he can charge astronomical fees so don't listen to me.

There's far far too much hype around JK; more houses are damaged by lightning strike than that plant. Do don't see everyone installing copper air terminals and down conductors on their roofs do you?

Sorry, rant over

boltos1

the plan covers monitoring and spraying for the next five years. I got a nice pdf outlining it all with pictures and maps! he will be back in august to burn it he said.

Yes it was expencive, but im not paying. the vendor wanted it sprayed there and .He could have arranged another quote if he had wanted.

daveyjp

boltos1 wrote: »

I met with the vendor and the knotweed man at the house today. The vendor agreed to pay for the treatment (2.5k) the knotweed man did the first spray there and then.

I get the management plan and guarantee. so were still going ahead with the sale

Spraying it now was not in line with best practice and you don't burn it in August.

It makes you wonder if he knows what he is actually doing for his vast sum of money.

moneyistooshorttomention

I must admit that my reading about JK seems to indicate that it gets dealt with a couple of months down the line in the year - though I may be wrong on this.

I think it would be interesting to read more details about disposal of the darn plant after it's been dealt with. I'm not sure whats what about burning of it and would be interested to read more details on "disposal by burning" - I think thats supposed to be a suitable method (but I'm not sure). I've read that some Council rubbish tips will take it if its double-bagged (which I'm never quite sure whether thats adequate for dealing with it).

Whilst we're talking about JK - I had always understood that the very first growth of it (ie first few inches of the shoot) look much like a pink-ish asparagus spear (and seen photos of it looking like that). However - on a recent walk on new-to-me path I was very struck by there being absolutely loads of spindly young plants growing by the side of the path/on the path/you name it and the sheer quantity had me wondering whether it was JK. But I thought it couldnt be because it wasnt "asparagus-like" shoots and the leaves were a different shape (not wide and with the quirky little point going very slightly sideways at the top). Then I got to the field at the end of that path - and WHEW! Clumps of Japanese Knotweed everywhere big-time and down by nearby river and no doubt whatsoever it was JK. So question is - does JK sometimes look very spindly/with more "normal" shape leaves to start with sometimes during its first few inches of growth? This plant (whatever it was) that was on that path was certainly being extremely invasive - so I'm guessing it was JK too (but looking different in the early stages to what I expected)?

Dan-Dan

If the vendor has been willing to commit to paying 2.5k on this issue at this stage i would be very wary of everything else to do with the house because to me this screams desperation to sell

Davesnave

daveyjp wrote: »

Spraying it now was not in line with best practice and you don't burn it in August.

It makes you wonder if he knows what he is actually doing for his vast sum of money.

Wherever money flows to those doing low grade, largely unskilled work, be it cavity wall insulation, rising damp treatment or knotweed eradication, the cowboys will be in the first chance saloon!