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Gardening

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Original poster

Japanese Knotweed surprise - help!!

5 replies

violapansy · 03/06/2019 22:24

Around 6 months ago we bought our first house, had it surveyed by the bank, all okay so we completed the purchase and moved in - ready to live happily ever after.....

Imagine my surprise when last week doing some work in our front garden our nextdoor neighbour mentioned in passing that the large bush behind their fence is JK, and it's not just a small bush (it's now taller than the fence). I was so shocked at the time I just nodded and continued the conversation - cue vigorous googling as soon as back in the house. We live in a terraced house, so the JK is within a foot of the corner of our back fence.

I'm just not sure what to do next. I've had a JK specialist round and he's confirmed it definitely is JK, and it's not a new plant - at least 5 years of growth he estimates. I've found out who owns the land the JK is on, but I'm not sure what to do next. Do I speak with my nextdoor neighbour again and ask why they've not sorted the issue so far? Should I speak in person with the land owner with the JK on or send a letter to them? ....I'm so stressed over the whole thing I've over thought it so much in my head I don't know what is my best next step is. Anyone have any experience with this? Any help is really really appreciated!!

OP posts:

userxx · 04/06/2019 12:10

So the JW is not on your neighbours property?

pigeonscooing · 04/06/2019 13:59

Report it to the council.

Original poster

violapansy · 04/06/2019 15:59

The JK is not on my neighbours property, but it is growing over (and I would guess under, but obviously can't see that) their back garden back fence. They've been ignoring it because "they didn't want the hassle of dealing with it" - however it's now growing really close to the corner of our back garden. There is an area of ground behind our back gardens about 10ft wide which is unkempt and belongs to the garages that also back onto it, this is where there the JK is.

Would you report straight to the council, without approaching the owner of the land?

OP posts:

userxx · 04/06/2019 16:40

I'd approach the owner first, they might not be aware of the problem. I'd act quickly.

MereDintofPandiculation · 05/06/2019 11:04

Remember it's not illegal to grow JK, but it is illegal to allow it to spread to someone else's land. So you can't insist that they get rid of it, but you can insist that they control it so it doesn't invade your garden (and in practice the easiest way for them to do this would be to get rid of it).

Start with the owner, then go to the Council if no joy. ASBOs have been issued for failing to deal with it.

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