Japanese Knotweed

TheGardener

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

I'm a bit puzzled by the reference to a Council's "Ecology Officer". I wasnt aware Councils have any such person.

It might not be a specific job title - but most councils do have an officer(s)who covers the general role - it could be an environmental manager, a bio-diversity officer, a ranger team, most councils still have environmental teams that wear a lot of 'hats' and cover amongst many other things - invasive species like JKW and Canada Geese (horrendous damage to lakes and river banks)

czechmate_2

I really don't quite get the panic about Knotweed. I've managed to eradicate patches of it without too much bother- which I cannot say about Ground Elder or Horsetail. It's a nuisance but not a Triffid.

moneyistooshorttomention

czechmate wrote: »

I really don't quite get the panic about Knotweed. I've managed to eradicate patches of it without too much bother- which I cannot say about Ground Elder or Horsetail. It's a nuisance but not a Triffid.

It would be interesting/useful if you can give details of what you personally did to eradicate it and how long it took.

I've just had another friend tell me yesterday that they've got it in their garden - as it's come in from someone else's land next door. The "guilty party" says they are going to deal with it - and she's waiting to see whether that was the truth at the moment - before she can start treating her own.

cloo

My husband got rid of a small stand over 3 years using the Royal Horticultural Society recommendations for treatment. Also don't get why lenders are so terrified of it - is there even any evidence that it has ever caused irreparable damage to a proper building with foundations? :think:

elantan

ours is called a Biodiversity officer, we had the same issue with land backing onto ours, we have been treating it for a while now and seem to be on top of it.

We used Glysophate, treating it at the start of growing season and again at the end of growing season, it seems to be effective so far, always ensure you burn anything you cut, always ensure you dont carry any of the JK anywhere else as well

Mojisola

cloo wrote: »

Also don't get why lenders are so terrified of it - is there even any evidence that it has ever caused irreparable damage to a proper building with foundations? :think:

I've seen pictures of it forcing its way up through the floors inside houses - not irreparable but not nice to have to deal with.

moneyistooshorttomention

cloo wrote: »

My husband got rid of a small stand over 3 years using the Royal Horticultural Society recommendations for treatment. Also don't get why lenders are so terrified of it - is there even any evidence that it has ever caused irreparable damage to a proper building with foundations? :think:

I've seen photos of a brand new house (ie only around 2 years old) having to be demolished because the builder hadnt ensured the site was JK free before building - and it duly got in through every "avenue" it could find into the inside of the house.

I believe it - as there is a Right !!!!!! Builder near me that has recently built some houses on a "known" site and I know blimmin' well they didnt deal with this properly first before they started building. I shall be "landing them in it" the first chance I get to chat to the poor new home-owners concerned.