Author: Daniel Pellowe
Size covered: 8 m2
Location: Dudley
Techniques: 5 year Treatment Plan
Use of land: Residential
BACKGROUND
Knotweed Services (UK) Ltd were contacted by a residential home owner to organise a site survey at their newly brought property in Dudley. At the time of call, we was informed our clients had purchased the property last January and had noticed shoots popping up throughout the end of summer 2018.
SITE SURVEYS
At the time of survey, I identified 2 stands of Japanese Knotweed in the rear garden along the right hand fence line. Japanese Knotweed was present on the neighbouring property, however I informed our client that the infestation would not be from the same rhizome system due to the area it was covering being more than 25metres away.
Our client mentioned their plans are to add decking, lawn and additional fencing to the rear of the property. I advised of the limitations due to been unaware of where the rhizomes may be travelling. I will be able to confirm after doing the inspection holes on my first visit in April.
A quotation was prepared for a 5 year treatment plan with off season works to be undertook to cut back old canes, remove crown material, aagitate the ground ready (ready for treatment in the growing season) and to dig some inspection holes.
The report was prepared with due care and attention, in accordance with industry best practice and guidance. The conclusions represented in the report represented Knotweed Services UK Ltd best judgement based upon the information available and conditions existing as of the date of the report.
The objectives was to provide a basic observation survey of the address and evaluate the risks presented to the property in accordance with the RICS Category Framework.
The findings were collated from a visual inspection only. I did not undertake exploratory excavations during the survey and because Japanese knotweed has particularly deep rooted rhizomes, knotweed may remain undiscovered by us somewhere within or close to the subject property.
I informed our client that the growing season for Japanese Knotweed is typically March – October.
March – April the plant will be at a early stage of its annual life cycle & some of the classic visual characteristics will not yet have developed, despite this its appearance can still be distinctive.
May – October During these months the growth of Japanese Knotweed will be most vigorous & in normal circumstances the plant should be easy identifiable.
October – February In these months the plant will shed its leaves and die back. Because the stems are robust, it is still possible to identify Japanese Knotweed even during this season.
The full site survey report and quotation was sent and our client confirmed they were happy to proceed.
MAPPING
INSURANCE BACKED GUARANTEES (IBG’S)
Knotweed Services UK offer their insurance backed guarantees through Guarantee Protection Insurance Ltd (GPI). GPIs primary and founding product was IBG’s and they are in the industries leaders in Japanese Knotweed insurance. The package we recommended for this project is the is “designed to provide cover in the event that the insured remedial works fail, during the period of insurance, and the contractor has ceased to trade and is unable to honour claims on the written guarantee.” (GPI, 2017).
GALLERIES
Monitoring Photos
Call us now to begin the treatment and control of your infestation
Call us on: 0121 720 0695 or 0800 689 4146 for an on the spot estimate
DON’T TAKE OUR WORD FOR IT, READ WHAT OUR CUSTOMERS SAY
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Excellent staff, excellent company. They knew everything what I needed to know about Japanese Knotweed. Can’t recommend them enough. Thank you 5*... Read More -
Excellent customer service, excellent price, excellent friendly surveyor and a speedy write up on the report which even I understood! Thank you Knotwe... Read More -
Lorraine and the team really get to understand the challenges that you are having a create a bespoke plan to best resolve. Friendly team and really pr... Read More -
Great Company and excellent service. Really put my mind at ease when purchasing our house. Thanks Again Knotweed Services -
Very professional company and really helped me overcome my Japanese knotweed problem. Lorraine was very keen to make sure I was happy every step of th... Read More
Knotweed Services (UK) Ltd offer our clients professional services and options, which are bespoke to individual client’s specifications and requirements.
FROM THE
POINT OF
INITIAL CONTACT,
KNOTWEED
SERVICES WILL
GUIDE YOU
THROUGH
THE PROCESS.
RESIDENTIAL TREATMENTS.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
As Infestations vary considerably from property to property it is therefore not surprising that the application technique will too. It may be necessary to use only one method of treatment or the combination of different methods.
As this is nature we are dealing with, our Japanese Knotweed specialists are trained to factor in all considerations in order to achieve optimal results. Decisions with regards to the methods of treatment opted for, will ultimately be decided by the ongoing assessment of site-specific infestations and the influencing factors/variables.
Therefore, the application procedure, giving the maximum efficacy with minimum waste and environmental impact will be tailored to specific sites.
As PCA approved Japanese Knotweed specialists, we are also guided by the latest research and development which gives guidance to the optimal time for treatment.
The latest research from Swansea University, released April 2018 by Dr. Dan Jones & Professor Dan Eastwood found that:
Applying the wrong herbicides at the wrong time of the year, leads to greater herbicide use and environmental impacts. The 4-Stage Model that we have developed links herbicide selection and application with the seasonal surface-rhizome flows in the Knotweed plant. This seasonal targeting of Knotweed delivers better results and uses lower doses of herbicide across the whole treatment life-cycle. For the public and land managers, this means more affordable treatment that is also more environmentally friendly than traditional, blanket herbicide application.”
(Dr. Dan Jones – Swansea University).
Following the release of this research, Knotweed Services (UK) Ltd now operate using the 4-stage model which identifies the optimal time for treatment.
— TREATMENT OPTIONS
FOLIAR SPRAYING *
The most common herbicide application is to spray the foliage. We use powerful chemicals with the use of a knapsack. Chemicals are sprayed away from other plants to ensure that other plants aren’t damaged. The most effective time to apply foliar spraying to Japanese Knotweed is in Spring.
This is much more damaging to the underground rhizome system than applying herbicides in any other season. A qualified person should carry out any treatment that involves the use of chemicals due to their powerful and harmful nature. All of our technicians are PCA and NPTC qualified.
FOLIAR LEAF WIPING *
With this treatment we employ a device to ‘physically wipe’ our chemicals onto the Japanese Knotweed leaves directly. This means our application is precise and that we can often use a higher concentration of chemical.
Wiping has advantages over spraying – the chemicals are being absorbed directly by the Knotweed and there’s less wastage and drip. It’s also a better solution if the infestation is very near desirable plants and foliage (no matter how careful we are, droplets in sprays can drift).
STEM INJECTION
We apply a controlled amount of herbicide directly into the Japanese Knotweed plant. Due to being injected directly into the plant, this is the most crafty method of removal. Unlike other spraying methods (more traditional) it is not dependant or compromised by weather conditions.
With traditional spraying methods, the environment has to be taken into account because rain or wind could cause the chemicals to spread to other species and have the potential to be harmful. Due to the nature of the stem injection procedure it is considered more environmentally friendly than other methods.
BIOMASS REDUCTION
Biomass is a form of excavation and removal but instead of extracting all of the soil impacted by Japanese Knotweed, we only remove the infested parts of the soil.
It is an effective, productive and maintainable Japanese Knotweed control method that allows the reuse of the previously infested soil. Reducing the use of landfill.
This method is most effective when used in conjunction with other control methods. For a domestic property, layers of soil will be scraped back and rhizome will be removed as it is unearthed.
CROWN REMOVAL
Crown and stems are capable of regenerating and even small fragments of cut crown or stem are capable of regenerating and becoming a new plant
– removing these from the equation is a great strategy.
New plants will grow from the nodes of pieces of green stem, in soil or water. Mechanical cutters, will spread Knotweed in this fashion. If stems are dried until they are dark brown, they will not regrow unless the crown (base of the stem) is still attached.
With the crowns removed – our herbicide and stem injection treatments are much more effective.
COMMERCIAL JAPANESE KNOTWEED REMOVAL.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
COMMERCIAL JAPANESE KNOTWEED REMOVAL.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
If you are looking to develop or build on land that has Japanese Knotweed, the option of a 5 year (herbicide) management plan is not viable. This is often down to the time constraints from planners, construction workers, resource availability & financing schedules.
In cases of development, it is also advised by the Environment Agency, that for complete eradication, the entire rhizome of the Japanese Knotweed should be removed from the soil; and this is especially so when the ground is likely to be disturbed in the construction, building of & extension of homes/industrial & commercial units & the landscaping of grounds.
Knotweed Services (UK) Ltd offer our clients professional services and options, which are bespoke to individual client’s specifications and requirements. Our friendly and helpful staff are here to talk to, offering free advice & guidance.
From the point of initial contact, Knotweed Services (UK) Ltd will guide you through the process, identifying the current use of the site, future plans for development, the time-scales and schedules in place,
identify if planning applications have been submitted or approved (where planning has been approved we will ask you to provide copies to Knotweed Services (UK) Ltd, to aid us in deciding upon the best Japanese Knotweed removal approach) & advise the most cost effective solutions available; specific to the clients project requirements.
Pictures, measurements and details specific to the site/project will be recorded – i.e. Access points for plant machinery, routes identified for disposal vehicles, potential bund areas identified & a Risk Assessment of the site and potential hazards recorded. Factors such as nearby water courses, neighbouring properties & planning for the site will also contribute to the surveyor’s final conclusions when selecting the most cost effective and appropriate management plan for the site/project.
The findings of the site survey, a schedule of works proposal and a quotation are then presented to the client in a report for the client’s consideration.
Knotweed Services (UK) Ltd will provide both the machinery and skilled staff for all of our projects. Our technicians and operatives are all trained and directly employed in-house. We will control and oversee all works directly and ensure that all legislation is strictly adhered to and that no cross contamination occurs. Alternatively, if you provide your own plant we can oversee the works for you.
NO TWO JOBS ARE EVER THE SAME.
In reality most eradication programs are a combination of treatments.
— TREATMENT OPTIONS
EXCAVATION AND DISPOSAL
This treatment method is ideal where time constraints are present and there’s no other option other than to remove both the Japanese Knotweed and contaminated soil to a registered landfill.
By removing all traces of the infestation quickly, this offers a rapid solution to your problem and allows your commercial project to begin groundwork’s almost straight away. When time is of the essence, there is no quicker Japanese Knotweed removal/treatment method.
Any waste taken off-site will be done so with a licensed waste carrier to a suitably authorised landfill site.
CELL BURIAL
Cell burial comprises of moving Knotweed contaminated soil from one location on site, burying it in an excavated pit which is lined with a root barrier membrane, in a different position on the site.
The burial requirements for Japanese Knotweed are as follows:
- The Environment Agency recommends that the top of the burial cell should be a minimum of 2 metres below ground level.
- The overall depth of the burial pit should be in excess of 5 metres deep. All root barrier seams are welded together forming an encapsulated cell from which the Japanese Knotweed cannot escape. Clean soil is then used to backfill on top of the cell.
- To prevent accidental disturbance of the burial site, it is recorded on all site plans and future land owners should be made aware of the location.
BUNDING
Bunding is the method of relocating contaminated Japanese Knotweed soil to a different area of the site being treated. A bund is a shallow area of the contaminated soil, typically 0.5m deep.
The bund can either be raised, on top of the ground, or placed within an excavation to make the surface flush with the surrounding area.
The purpose of the bund is to move the Japanese Knotweed to an area of the site that is not used. This ‘buys time’ for treatment that would not be possible where the Japanese Knotweed was originally located.
