LAYING DOWN ROOTS WITH INVASIVE KNOTWEED

House prices in the UK have risen by 10% over the year from 2020 to 2021, according to ONS data. Despite this growth, a plant called Japanese knotweed – regarded as one of the most invasive and rapidly growing in the UK – continues to grow and has the capability to knock up to 15% off the value of a property. An estimated 4-5% of UK homes are now affected by Japanese knotweed.

On average, there is one Japanese knotweed infestation for every 10 square kilometres in the UK and is a plant that you are legally required to highlight when selling your home. Japanese knotweed can grow up to 10cm a day, and due to rhizomes in the plant’s soil, the roots grow horizontally, making it an extremely difficult plant to get rid of without professional help.

While the nation’s average house prices have risen, London continues to be the region with the lowest annual growth of house prices (5.2%), which is coincidentally also a major hotspot for Japanese knotweed. In parts of the country where Japanese knotweed is not so present, such as the North West, house prices have grown the most, with a 15.2% change over the year.

Adam Brindle, the founder of Japanese Knotweed Specialists, said: “Japanese knotweed is a nuisance for many people and we’ve seen the horror stories that people have gone through trying to get rid of the plant themselves. Due to the large and invasive roots of the plant, digging it up without professional help can be an incredibly difficult task for the average person and the fact that it also spreads rapidly makes it even more of a challenge to combat.”

To remove Japanese knotweed, it is highly advised to enlist the help of professional services such as Japanese Knotweed Specialists, who are PCA approved. Also, the plant is classed as controlled waste so cannot be chopped down and disposed of in your bin or garden waste container. You must use a registered waste carrier to take your cuttings to a licensed landfill site.

www.japaneseknotweedspecialists.com