Commercial Japanese Knotweed Removal discussed by Green Leaf Remediation

When it comes to the removal of Japanese Knotweed, you should always use a professional Japanese Knotweed specialist who has the experience to identify and offer suitable solutions for your Commercial Knotweed Removal. Japanese Knotweed (Fallopia japonica) is a perennial weed that forms tall canes and can also be known as Japanese bamboo, peashooters, or fleece flower. 

Knotweed was first brought to the UK from its natural habitats in East Asian countries in the 1850s and, as an invasive plant species to the UK, has a huge propensity to wildly spread if not properly treated with an efficient method from an expert. Its ability to spread quickly is because it was introduced to the UK without the plant-feeding insects – pysllids – that keep the plants’ growth under control. 

The Japanese knotweed rhizomes (root system) and crowns (ball-shaped structure that sits between the roots and canes) of knotweed suppress any other plants growing around it, with the root system being able to spread quickly and extensively underground. Established shoots or canes can grow to more than three metres in height, whereas the rhizomes can reach a depth of over two metres and spread up to seven metres away from the main plant. The sheer scale of the knotweed root system during the height of its predominant growing season means that Japanese knotweed removal methods are extremely difficult, and solidifies its reputation of being known as one of the UK’s most difficult invasive non-native plants.

Knotweed has quickly become one of the most invasive weeds present in the UK, with millions of homeowners, businesses, councils, and developers having to take action with a professional Japanese Knotweed removal service to manage it. Not only is knotweed a problem underground but it is now estimated that almost ten per cent of rivers in the UK are now infested with Japanese Knotweed and it is very likely to get a lot worse.

A Japanese Knotweed survey from a qualified specialist such as Green Leaf Remediation Services can formally identify the presence of knotweed, and advise you on the most suitable treatment plan and Japanese knotweed removal costs. For more information, or to book our identification or treatment, and removal services, call our knotweed specialists on 01269 495375 today.

It isn’t illegal in the UK to have Japanese Knotweed growing on your land, and there is no legal obligation to remove or treat it either, however, as a landowner, property owner, or homeowner, you do have the responsibility to control it and prevent it from spreading into the wild or onto someone else’s property. The Environmental Protection Act 1990 classifies it as ‘controlled waste’. Not only is the weed highly invasive, but it is extremely resilient as well, making it very difficult to remove without infecting other areas of soil, and damaging the vegetation around it, which makes it a problem even when disposed of in a licensed landfill. If it isn’t treated and removed by a professional, then in most cases it will come back and will likely to have spread to other areas of soil.

If you are aware that you have Japanese Knotweed, and it is established that you are not taking the necessary actions in the management of knotweed, as in having the right control systems and a treatment plan in place to prevent it from spreading to neighbouring properties, land or into the wild, it is possible that you can be prosecuted. Schedule 9 of the ‘Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981’ states that you must not plant or even cause Japanese Knotweed growth in the wild. You can be prosecuted and significantly fined if you do not impose an effective solution to prevent it from spreading. You could also be fined up to £5,000, or be sent to prison for up to two years if you allow contaminated soil or plant material from any waste you transfer to spread into the wild. This is why you should always use a qualified and experienced expert like Green Leaf Remediation Services, who will offer you insurance-backed guarantees for the treatment plans and Japanese Knotweed removal methods that they can offer you.

If you are a Commercial Premises Owner, Business Owner or a Developer and you identify that you have Japanese Knotweed then you should use a specialist who is experienced in commercial Japanese knotweed control and removal to avoid costs of remediation strategies, potential prosecution, claims for compensation from people who buy residential properties that have been built on the development site, or structural damage to buildings and services caused by the spread of knotweed.

Using someone who does not have the relevant qualifications and experience in using the right chemicals will, in most cases, result in the knotweed spreading to other parts of the soil that were previously unaffected. In order to effectively control knotweed, a specialist must carry out the proper plan and treatment package.

Green Leaf Remediation is a qualified Japanese Knotweed Surveyor and expert in the Japanese Knotweed industry, they can assess whether you have Japanese Knotweed on your property or your land, and advise you of the best and most effective treatment option for you, also providing insurance-backed guarantees to protect you and your business in the future.

Japanese Knotweed can grow rapidly and aggressively and, in its peak growing season, can grow up to 20cm a day, reaching 3 meters plus in height. Its knotweed roots can grow up to 3 metres deep and up to 7 metres horizontally, and it will quickly establish itself and grow into cracks in bricks, cavity walls, pipework, and other structural components of a building if they are not structurally sound, causing further damage in its quest to reach the light.

Japanese Knotweed is difficult to identify as its appearance changes throughout the different seasons of the year and, at times, it can look like many other shrubs that are present in our UK gardens. Whilst its main identifier is the speed of its growth, you can only see such growth above ground in the spring and summer months, as, during the autumn and winter seasons, it will instead be spreading quickly underground, only emerging above ground again to the width of its roots in the following spring.

If you are a business owner, property developer or land owner looking for the identification of knotweed on your commercial land, or looking for Japanese knotweed treatment services in South Wales, then get in touch with Green Leaf Remediation today. We can survey your commercial property and commercial premises to check for the presence of Japanese knotweed, as well as recommend the optimal knotweed treatment and removal methods to ensure that your land isn’t reinfested with knotweed in the future. For more information regarding the Japanese knotweed services we provide, or to book a commercial knotweed identification survey, give our expert team at Green Leaf Remediation a call on 01269 495375 today.

How to Identify Japanese Knotweed on Your Commercial Property or Commercial Premises

Japanese knotweed leaves can be identified by their shovel-shaped or heart-shaped leaves. They have a point at the tip and are staggered on the stem, with one stem per node which creates a zig-zag stem growth pattern. Their leaves are a bright and rich green colour and can grow up to 20cm in length.

Japanese knotweed flowers consist of long clusters of creamy white flowers which appear towards the end of summer or in early September. These flower clusters can grow to around half a centimetre wide and up to 10cm in length. Their leaves remain as they are as the flowers grow, which results in thick and dense foliage.

Japanese knotweed rhizomes are the part of the plant that grows extensively underground and they are known as its underground roots. The outside of the stem is dark brown and the inside is orange/yellow in colour. The fresh stems will be crisp and, if bent, will easily snap. The rhizomes can grow up to 3 metres in-depth and up to 7 metres horizontally away from the original plant. This is the part of the weed that is most likely to make it spread and just one tiny fragment, as little as 0.7g can create a new knotweed plant, which is why problematic Japanese knotweed hotspots can arise so quickly.

Japanese knotweed stems can grow up to 2 to 3 metres tall – sometimes even taller than this – and they are similar in appearance to bamboo, hence why it is often also referred to as Japanese bamboo. Japanese knotweed stems have visible nodes and purple speckles, with their leaves growing outwards from the nodes in a zig-zag type pattern. As the weed matures, the stems inside become hollow making them easy to snap, with them becoming very fragile and brittle in the colder winter months.

If you’re concerned that your commercial land or commercial property may have Japanese knotweed, you should book a Japanese knotweed identification survey with our Green Leaf Remediation knotweed specialists today. We can both identify the presence of Japanese knotweed on your land or property, let you know the extent of damage it may be causing as well as recommend and provide the best knotweed treatment options for you. To get started on identifying whether your commercial property is affected by Japanese knotweed, give our experts a call at Green Leaf Remediation on 01269 495375.

How to Identify Japanese Knotweed in the Various Different Seasons

Spring

Japanese knotweed grows at its most prolific during the spring months and can reach over 3 metres in height. Its new shoots emerge with a red or purple tinged hue and are often referred to as looking similar to asparagus spears. Japanese knotweed leaves commonly look rolled up, and are dark green or sometimes tinged with red.

Summer

By the months of early summer, the knotweed plant is fully grown, reaching over 3 metres in height, with clusters of creamy white flowers appearing by later parts of the season.

Autumn

In the autumn months, the leaves of the Japanese knotweed will begin to turn yellow and will wilt, however, the density of its leaves remain. It can still be over 3 metres in height and the hollow stems will start to turn brown.

Winter

At the beginning of winter, the knotweed canes start to die off, however, the plant itself is still very much alive. The leaves will fade to a yellow colour, before turning brown and falling off. The hollow canes become dark brown in colour as well as brittle, and they give way against each other before falling to the ground. In the midst of the winter months, the root system will be growing and spreading quickly underground before, in springtime, the plant will start to aggressively grow again, and you will see the previous year’s canes lying underneath the new stems and foliage.

You should always use a qualified Japanese Knotweed expert to identify whether you have Japanese Knotweed on your Commercial Land or Property as they will have the experience and know-how to advise you on the control, treatment, or Japanese Knotweed eradication method that will suit you, your premises, or commercial client.

Construction Sites & Property Development Sites

In the instance, Japanese Knotweed is identified quickly, and an effective removal method is used by a qualified knotweed specialist in the pre-development or early stages of development, there will be a wider and more varied choice of treatment methods; the costs will be significantly reduced, and there will be less of an impact on the cost implications of any building work or commercial projects that have already started, allowing for a more cost-effective construction project in the long run.

If Japanese Knotweed is identified at the due diligence stage of a property or land purchase, then it can be used to negotiate substantial price reductions, which can then be used to offset the removal costs, or for the subsequent devaluing of the property or land since the knotweed was identified.

Any development investors or mortgage lenders, whether residential, commercial or for land development, have to be notified if Japansese Knotweed is identified to be present. Most lenders will require an insurance backed guarantee to be put in place in the case of the knotweed returning, as well as the knotweed removal itself, to be carried out by a professional and suitably qualified Japanese knotweed specialist in the Japanese knotweed industry such as the experts at Green Leaf Remediation.

Developers have to use an efficient and effective method of removing Japanese Knotweed to ensure that development work isn’t delayed and that any present knotweed must be completely eradicated before any work can begin, or continue once it has been identified.

If you are a landowner with a Japanese knotweed infestation on your property, or if you are a commercial developer affected by knotweed in South Wales, then get in touch with our invasive plant experts at Green Leaf Remediation. Give us a call on 01269 495375 to discuss your commercial knotweed removal and book your free Japanese knotweed site survey today.

Commercial Knotweed Removal Methods

Commercial Knotweed Removal – Bund or Stockpiling

Bund, also referred to as stockpiling, is a combined treatment that uses stem injection or foliar application, which is then followed by excavating the underground Japanese knotweed material and removing it to a different area of the site. This enables further herbicide application on the emergence of ‘new shoots’ come the following overground growth season. This control method is a much quicker process than conventional herbicide application methods that need to be carried out over several growing seasons, therefore reducing any delays in development work and construction starting.

Commercial Knotweed Removal – Cell Burial or Root Barrier

Creating a cell burial system, or utilising a root barrier, will avoid the substantial costs of transporting the infested knotweed soil and waste to a certified, licensed landfill. Cell burial consists of burying the Japanese Knotweed material to deep depth underground or, if it is encapsulated within a geo membrane, it can be done closer to the ground surface. Root barriers can be installed both vertically (normally when there is a risk of cross-boundary contamination) and horizontally, however, there needs to be adequate space onsite in order to accommodate this method of removal. Again, this is a quick treatment and removal method that is beneficial for use on land marked for development.

Commercial Knotweed Removal – Excavation and Removal Off-Site

The excavation of Japanese Knotweed and removal of knotweed material to an off-site location is a legitimate and efficient method of Japanese knotweed eradication; this is an advantageous option due to it being a swift control method for development sites, as long as it is done safely and correctly by a qualified Japanese knotweed specialist. This removal method, however, creates significant logistical challenges that also create a high risk of the knotweed spreading during removal and when being transported, so it is not a method that is used a huge amount. There are legal duty of care requirements under the Environmental Protection Act (EPA) 1990 when using this method of removal, along with significant cost implications for transporting the knotweed material to a licensed, and designated landfill.

To learn more about the Japanese knotweed eradication and removal methods that we provide at Green Leaf Remediation, or to get advice on which method will get the best results in treating knotweed found on your commercial land, get in touch with our knotweed specialists in South Wales today by giving us a call on 01269 495375.

What will a JKMP Survey with Green Leaf Remediation Include?

A JKMP (Japanese Knotweed Management Plan) survey by our knotweed experts at Green Leaf Remediation provides you with a formal Japanese Knotweed identification, details as to the exact location of the Japanese knotweed plants, the extent of it, the risks, and also recommendations of the advised treatment options for your commercial property, commercial land, or development site.

• Formal identification of the presence of Japanese knotweed by a fully qualified and experienced knotweed specialist
• An outline of all boundaries and property positions in detail, along with the precise locations of all Japanese knotweed plants
• A risk assessment detailing the extent of the Japanese knotweed infestation, along with the risks of it spreading
• The size of the infestation, where it is present and what perimeters it may be breaching or where it may be threatening to breach
• Our surveys are recognised and verified and will provide your mortgage lender, bank or building society with the risk assessment they need regarding lending on the property and our recommended specialist treatment method for both domestic and commercial properties
• Advisable removal and treatment methods (management plans) for your commercial property and commercial land

To book a Japanese knotweed identification survey, as well as receive a fully comprehensive report on the best management and removal methods for your commercial property or development site, contact us at Green Leaf Remediation for a commercial knotweed consultation on 01269 495375 today.

What are the Benefits of a Survey with Green Leaf Remediation?

There are many benefits to engaging Japanese knotweed experts, such as those at Green Leaf Remediation, to undertake a JKMP survey (Japanese Knotweed Management Plan), including the following:

• An early identification of the presence of Japanese Knotweed means that you will have more of an opportunity to both control and remove it with fewer costs associated. As Japanese knotweed grows and spreads, the cost of knotweed treatment methods exponentially increases, so, therefore, it is imperative to ignore the need for knotweed identification and its resulting treatment requirements
• Starting construction or development on a site which has knotweed present without an effective management plan in place can lead to increased costs for removal further down the line
• Our JKMP surveys are officially recognised by mortgage lenders and banks, which will save you time and money in the long run
• A survey can safeguard you if you are buying land to develop, as you can incorporate the cost of removal methods and services into your offer price; this is also relevant when purchasing a property, whether for commercial or domestic purposes
• JKMP surveys assess the extent of the Japanese knotweed problem against the development plans you have for your commercial land or commercial property 
• Our remediation specialists will also review the unchecked plant growth of other species as part of our identification process
• There are different methods of treatment and removal advisable for each individual property, land and construction site, and a knotweed report can ensure that an extensive but effective treatment plan is included. At Green Leaf Remediation, our reports are fully bespoke, and our treatment plans will vary depending on the time of year, condition of the site, the land available, timescales, any neighbouring properties and overall property location
• A full remediation proposal is included with our full Japanese Knotweed Management Plan documentation
• Our surveyor’s are accredited by the Property Care Association (PCA)
• Our reports are mortgage compliant, providing mortgage lenders and house buyers with an understanding of the extent of the knotweed present and any implications to your land, property or buildings
• We will advise you on the risks to any buildings, structures and your property boundaries, as well as detailing the level of risk the Japanese knotweed entails
• Our reports are provided in an easy to read, and understandable, report format
• Our report includes a detailed, comprehensive quote along with our recommended Japanese Knotweed Treatment Programme (proposals for treatment) which is fully bespoke to your property, land or site
• We have the experience to remove large areas of Knotweed and can work alongside builders and property developers to enable them to continue without the worry of the Japanese knotweed problem

Commercial Development Site Knotweed Management Case Studies

Tenby – Development of 39 dwellings. An area measuring roughly 40m x 20m severely infested with knotweed (despite apparently being treated by a well-known and established knotweed ‘specialist’ over the last three years). As an educated guess – the previous knotweed contractor had ‘overdosed’ on the herbicide treatment, whereby too many chemicals have been applied, which sends the viable knotweed rhizomes into dormancy (sleep). Whilst it may appear that they have controlled the plant, this is definitely not the case.

Given that there are approx four weeks before the construction phase of the project begins, our only realistic option is to excavate the infested knotweed material and complete a cell burial on-site, which would not hinder the stringent time constraints imposed by the land owner. We have identified an area on site where we can create a ‘cell burial’ following the excavation of the infested knotweed material.

About South Wales Knotweed Commercial Knotweed Removal

At Green Leaf Remediation, we provide Japanese knotweed treatment and removal services to the whole of South Wales (including Swansea, Cardiff and Newport), West Wales, up to North Ceredigion & Powys and throughout South Glamorgan, Gwent and Tenby. We carry out commercial contracts in the West Country, as far North as Shropshire and into the Midlands and Birmingham areas.

We are a team of fully qualified Japanese Knotweed Certificated Surveyors (JKCS), where we specialise in the control of Japanese knotweed, other invasive plants to the UK and general ‘nuisance weeds’ that are commonly found in the UK at both residential and commercial properties, as well as development sites.

We also provide tree services, such as pollarding, crowning, pruning and felling, all through our NPTC (now known as City and Guilds Land Based Services) chainsaw operators, all of whom possess a vast amount of experience in the forestry industry.

To book a Japanese knotweed treatment and removal service, any other invasive or troublesome weed removal, or tree services in South Wales, give our expert team at Green Leaf Remediation a call on 01269 495375.

Our Qualifications & Accreditations:

• City & Guilds NPTC Level 2
• Principles of Safe Handling & Application of Pesticides (PA1/PA6)
• Principles of Safe Handling & Application of Pesticides near water (PA6AW)
• Herbicide Stem Injection
• Property Care Association
• The Control & Eradication of Japanese Knotweed Surveyor’s Training Course
• Qualified Technician (PCAQT) in Japanese Knotweed
• Accredited Surveyor in Japanese Knotweed

South Wales Commercial Knotweed Removal Services Include:

• Free knotweed identification by a qualified and experienced Japanese knotweed specialist
• Free comprehensive Japanese knotweed site survey including a full management plan outlining the eradication method, reasonings, timescales, ecological impacts (if there are any) and competitively priced quote
• Regional CSJK Certificated Surveyors (trained & Qualified to identify, control and remove Japanese Knotweed)
• Expert Japanese knotweed knowledge and advice
• Professional Japanese Knotweed Management Plan (JKMP) documentation
• Provision of advice on planning issues, legal problems, and ecological issues, as well as advisable control methods for any other invasive plants and weeds in the UK
• Availability of excavation eradication methods 
• Availability of long term chemical treatment method programmes 

All of our Japanese Knotweed treatment methods are fully endorsed by the Environment Agency Codes of Practice, as well as the industry trade body, The Property Care Association, which can be tailored to suit you as the client. We are happy to consider a staggered payment schedule for any work that does not involve a third party, who may require evidence of pre-payment in full from the outset (mortgage lenders as an example).

Contact Green Leaf Remediation today on 01269 495375 where one of our Japanese Knotweed experts will answer any questions you may have on Commercial Knotweed Removal and can arrange your free identification site survey.