Japanes Knotweed

koolpc · 31 Oct 2019 at 22:14

Friend of mine is buying house which has Japanese Knotweed growing behind the rear fence of the property. Quite a very large sway of it.

Apparently the vendors had a specialist firm in to survey and treat the knotweed with a 5 year management plan and 10 year guarantee. My friend has seen the survey etc.

Banks etc are willing to lend if someone takes out one of these managed / guarantee plans.

The garden has no knotweed (yet!).

Anyone here had knotweed issues?

Obviously it didnt stop him from buying even though the knotweed is covering a very large area behind all the gardens in the street.

koolpc · 31 Oct 2019 at 22:47

Vargas said:
I had it at the back of a rented property a few years back, it grew hard and fast, came through a stone wall at one point.

Wasnt it ever treated?

koolpc · 31 Oct 2019 at 23:00

The_Abyss said:
I'd venture that if the knotweed is growing in large swathes then it isn't being effectively managed. You can't keep it at bay - it needs to be removed and destroyed.

It is increasingly prevalent, but I don't think I'd bother with it and instead would just look elsewhere.

I went to look at the property and it is a massive area of knotweed but, nothing in the gardens. Looks like it is being managed directly behind the property but not elsewhere. I guess the 5 year plan and guarantee are good to have if selling though as most lenders require that where knotweed is prevalent.

koolpc · 31 Oct 2019 at 23:01

Vargas said:
We were only in the property from March until October. It was on farmland and owner advised us to leave it, he was worried that we could spread it accidentally.

Thats true. People cut it and the bits they cut, if dropped on soil etc can set root.

koolpc · 31 Oct 2019 at 23:05

The_Abyss said:
It sounds like they're good to have to sell the property but not to maintain it. The roots extend for several metres outward away from the plants, so they will be coming towards the actual building. It should not be left 'managed' - it needs to be eradicated.

Managed means just that. Its a 5 year plan of eradicating it. Problem though is that the whole area needs to be done to have any effect.

koolpc · 31 Oct 2019 at 23:12

The_Abyss said:
Exactly, and something about this doesn't sound right. It is behind houses on a street with other houses, but the vendor of this house is the one that took action? It feels odd that there wasn't a collective action taken place. Why is one house, the vendor, taking total responsibility to remove it - it will affect everyone.

It just sounds like the management plan is 'keep it out of our garden for 10 years', which is pointless.

I agree. I think neighbour to the right is doing the same. Other houses are rented i believe.

koolpc · 31 Oct 2019 at 23:37

MissChief said:
It's best to use official guidance which states it can take up to 3 years to fully eradicate it.

Very true. The house friend is buying has a 5 year plan in place. Only issue is that its only a small area of the 'infestation'. I guess its enough to keep his property clear. Rear of the garden is approx 100ft from the house.

koolpc · 1 Nov 2019 at 09:18

Rear of garden

koolpc · 1 Nov 2019 at 09:34

Rear of garden

koolpc · 1 Nov 2019 at 09:47

200sols said:
I wouldn't touch that.

Its behind the rear fence.

koolpc · 1 Nov 2019 at 10:02

Funky-Melon said:
Yes but I bet the roots are already in his land, that's a big plant - You just don't know.

He may be fine for a few years then have shoots popping up through the concrete at the rear of his garden - it does penetrate concrete.

Only through 'cracks' in concrete. Not through uncracked concrete!

koolpc · 1 Nov 2019 at 10:12

Cant read the red writing!

It cant grow through solid, un cracked concrete!

Friend has decided not to go through with purchase now.

koolpc · 2 Nov 2019 at 19:32

Fourstar said:
In pic1 everything green apart from the background trees looks like Knotweed. In pic2 it looks to be growing along the fence line up his neighbours garden.

While a management plan will knock down what pops up in his garden it just looks like a problem that will only get worse unless the neighbouring landowners make a concerted effort. I hope the price your friend paid reflects the fact that his future sale could be impacted.

No, the knotweed is only behind the rear fence

koolpc · 2 Nov 2019 at 23:17

I spoke to a long term landscape gardener yesterday who told me that there are much worse plants out there. Japanese knotweed has had the run of the press. Other plants that are just as bad if not worse!

koolpc · 3 Nov 2019 at 10:01

Grimley said:
I reckon that buddleia is one of said plants. I've seen that plant grow pretty much everywhere & it grows quickly too. Especially by railway lines.

Yes, that is one

koolpc · 24 Apr 2020 at 23:07

No knotweed in that pic