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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask how you deal with Japanese knotweed

63 replies

rogertherabbit · 14/05/2017 10:09

Hi all, I post a couple of weeks ago about a house I've fallen in love with but it was quite near a main road. This turns out not to be an issue, but I've now discovered there is knotweed in the garden! It's not near the house and is being treated, but I'm looking for your experiences of dealing with this stuff - there is apparently a 10 year plan in place, but I don't really know how much of an issue it'll be. Plus I don't know if the bank will give me a mortgage 😟 Hoping with the treatment plan they will, but I just don't know!

OP posts:
Apairofsparklingeyes · 14/05/2017 12:05

Your dream property could quickly become an expensive nightmare.

Listen to what Frilly says and don't even consider buying a house that has knotweed.

Original poster
rogertherabbit · 14/05/2017 12:37

stuntcamel that's crazy!! And quite scary....

OP posts:
Tanith · 14/05/2017 12:50

I would never buy a house with Japanese knotweed; in fact, I'd be put off moving to the area at all.

Horsetail is another weed I'd avoid like the plague (because it is a bloody plague!).
Alan Titchmarsh was once asked how to get rid of it and he answered "Move house!" Shock

herethereandeverywhere · 14/05/2017 14:30

Wow there is some hysteria on here. BarbarianMum speaks sense. It is not without difficulties but it is simple to eradicate unless the weed has already taken hold on the land. Ours was removed in a season and has not regenerated 5 years later.

What size are the 'quite small' patches Roger? And have you looked into expert treatment and removal?

in fact, I'd be put off moving to the area at all...that is just crazy! It is everywhere in certain parts of the UK. I don't think emigration is a realistic option for most people!

loveka · 14/05/2017 14:34

I am buying a house with a 10 year plan in place. The plan also includes insurance for if it comes back. It cost the sellers about £4k to put in place.

Original poster
rogertherabbit · 14/05/2017 17:47

The longest bit is about 5m I think, the other is 3m square. Looks small on the map but I guess those are fair size areas!

loveka did you pay less for the house because of the knotweed? Were the mortgage people bothered by it?

OP posts:
FrenchMartiniTime · 14/05/2017 17:52

Don't buy a house anywhere near Japanese knotweed.

Treating it is temporary and it grows like wildfire.

If it comes into contact with your property in the future you will never sell it on and your house could be a danger as it can affect the foundations.

I wouldn't risk it.

Wando1986 · 14/05/2017 17:54

OP you can also phone your local council parks department who can advise on the best course of action. Also if the church are responsible for the spread then it is down to them to pay for yours to be removed and treated, also. You can be prosecuted for allowing it to spread as it is such an invasive bastard.

Wando1986 · 14/05/2017 17:56

Silverlegobrick, because structurally it fucks everything here due to the close proximity of gardens and buildings. Depending what area of France you live in this may not be such an issue.

hooliodancer · 14/05/2017 17:59

No we didn't pay less for the house. Our solicitor said as long as there is insurance in place and the eradication plan has been put in place (paid for by them) then it's satisfactory. We have seen the full knotweed survey (again paid for by them) . We don't feel we are taking a risk as there is insurance.

We didn't need a mortgage so I don't know about that.

hooliodancer · 14/05/2017 18:01

Sorry I have 2 user names depending on what device I'm on for some reason. That was loveka replying

DimplesToadfoot · 14/05/2017 18:06

It was growing like mad in the field behind my house, quite badly in my neighbours garden too and trying to come under/through the fence into mine. My neighbours couldn't give a damn so they did nothing, however the council came and sprayed 'accidentally' spraying my neighbours while they were at it. It all died off and now many years later its never come back .. with a bit of luck you won't see it again

SilverLegoBrick · 14/05/2017 19:07

Thanks Wando. I've seen it here right next to houses! No one seems to know anything about it. We found some sprouting up the hill behind our house - DH cut it back and we will keep an eye on it but it's quite far away from our garden, let alone our house.

KarmaNoMore · 14/05/2017 20:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

worridmum · 14/05/2017 20:22

soon people will have to deal with it as in the South east around 30% of all properties are in danger or effected by knotweed and it will contine to spread as it is so hard to treat and so expesive (even with the law saying you have to remove its one of the 12 plants landowners have to remove)

YoullNeverWeeAlone · 14/05/2017 20:22

There was a patch maybe 4m x 3m in the garden of our house which we bought in 1979. As kids we would make tracks through it, and pull up sticks to hold in the bonfire as it made a satisfying "pop".

It was a long way from the house, probably 100m+, but it didn't spread and was there until 1990ish, when parents dug it out and burnt it. It never came back.

So I would take expert advice on your specific situation, and maybe seek a reduction in price, but it wouldn't stop me buying if I loved it.

Original poster
rogertherabbit · 14/05/2017 20:25

wando good point - I should try and find out what's being done to the bit in the church. Maybe I should ring the company who are treating the knotweed on this property and see if they know?

OP posts:
GloriaV · 14/05/2017 20:38

Wow, I didn't know it was such an issue.

There was some in the garden of this house when we moved in - I thought it was an unusual garden plant until I realised, a year or so later, what it was. I sprayed it with glyphosate (as I do all the weeds) and it died. Once or twice bits have appeared elsewhere (no doubt because it probably seeded for a few years) and I spray them and they've died.
I've noticed some on the verges near here so I think I'll zap them too.
I suppose if they're allowed to grow to large areas they are a problem but otherwise it seems controllable. And I just sprayed the leaves, no injecting the stems or anything.

MaisyPops · 14/05/2017 21:29

gloria
It's not controlable. That's the point.

To get rid of it you have to dig down a stupid depth and have a specialist team remove the roots (and sift your soil) because a tiny section left can regrow again. It can break through concrete and destabilise houses.

All you're doing is knocking back the surface of it. You're not killing it.

Hippee · 14/05/2017 21:39

It's not in a town beginning with H is it? Just been shown some knotweed in a churchyard - seems to be common theme.

GloriaV · 14/05/2017 21:44

But glyphosate is taken down to the roots. That's how it kills the weeds. Takes a week or so to work. I didn't dig it out.
Maybe it depends on how long it has been growing in a certain area, whether the weedkiller can reach the roots or not, but mine has definitely gone.

PeaFaceMcgee · 14/05/2017 21:46

Such overreactions here. The threat to foundations etc is massively overstated. Huge industry built around eradication for no sound reason. Unfortunately the public and mortgage companies have fallen for it.

PeaFaceMcgee · 14/05/2017 21:48

And Roundup is indeed the answer according to my surveyor relative.

RedBugMug · 14/05/2017 21:50

maybe french foundations are built better than those of cost-cutting-at-every-step uk developers?

PeaFaceMcgee · 14/05/2017 21:52

It can break through concrete and destabilise houses

No, it can't break through concrete or destabilise houses that are not already overly weak or tumbledown. And to do so it would need to be really bushing throughout the bottom of the house.