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Gardening

Find tips and tricks to make your garden or allotment flourish on our Gardening forum.

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Original poster

Japenese Knotweed - how severe is this??

36 replies

CCC8 · 20/07/2022 12:37

Hi all,

We've found a property we're really keen on in Surbiton, but... the neighbours have a level 4 Japanese knotweed situation whilst the house itself is free of it at present, but has been assessed as a level 3.

Anyone able to shed some light on this and whether it's something we should stay clear of. Also, is this not something that can be cured and treated (sorry, I'm a kiwi and we definitely don't have this situation back home!).

TIA!

OP posts:

Original poster

CCC8 · 20/07/2022 16:01

NotDavidTennant · 20/07/2022 15:56

It's pretty obvious when you've got it as the stems shoot up really quickly. I'm not sure why you'd need to pay for an inspection when you can just monitor it yourself by keeping an eye on the garden boundary to see if any has crossed over.

I think the concern is if the roots spread underneath and it's not visible until a few years later.

OP posts:

Original poster

CCC8 · 20/07/2022 16:02

SuperCamp · 20/07/2022 15:39

OP: look on the Property / DIY board .

Lots of ‘buying a property with knotweed’ threads.

Thank you!!

OP posts:

Original poster

CCC8 · 20/07/2022 16:04

Newgirls · 20/07/2022 15:29

It’s really common. It also spreads easily where a lot of building work is going on as piles of earth are moved around, dumped etc

if you know about it and treat it you will be fine. Prob get a bargain too.

True on the bargain bit.. but concerned for future sale price.. ! Likely to be a bargain as well for that future buyer!

OP posts:

Original poster

CCC8 · 20/07/2022 16:05

SuperCamp · 20/07/2022 15:38

At some stage the railway companies thought it was a good plant to put on embankments.

And now, of course, do nothing to eradicate it.

That's explains it (annoyingly!!).

OP posts:

Original poster

CCC8 · 20/07/2022 16:07

SuperCamp · 20/07/2022 15:39

OP: look on the Property / DIY board .

Lots of ‘buying a property with knotweed’ threads.

Thank you!!

OP posts:

newstart1234 · 20/07/2022 16:18

It's easy to get rid of in my experience. You just paint the leaves with strong seed killer and the big plants die. Then just do that over and over and pull the tiny plants directly out the ground. The legal faff around it makes it a pain though it makes it seem like it not just a plant that can be killed off with weedkiller. We did it fine. It takes around 5 years for the tiny plants not to shoot back up again but I found it surprisingly easy to eradicate. this is not in the UK though so i'm not sure if just killing it is legal here. My point: it may be a legal problem but it's not a gardening problem per se.

hattie43 · 20/07/2022 16:23

My mum had it at her house when it came through from a neighbour who didn't realise what it was .

She has had it treated by a professional company and now has indemnity insurance . It wasn't cheap to treat though , talking thousands

Maurepas · 20/07/2022 16:47

I was surprised to discover in France they do not seem to mind it and regard it like bamboo which can also be very invasive.

Sweatingmytiitsoff · 20/07/2022 16:47

I had a savour cone out to my house around 5 years ago. They prompt left... because of this OP. Banks won't lend and people will be put off even if you don't mind.

Stay clear.

easyday · 20/07/2022 18:03

What a lot of scare mongering! There are plants out there that do more damage that people seem to not be bothered about at all. Buddleia for example, which people have growing all over the place! JK is harder to get rid of, but it doesn't deserve its demon weed reputation.
If there is no knotweed within the property boundary but within your neighbours but 7m from boundary it is category 2.
The neighbours should have it treated and this will come with a ten year guarantee, and insurance against them going out of business in those ten years. This usually satisfies most mortgage companies.
Knotweed is fairly ubiquitous in London and if it made properties as unsellable as some pp would have you believe then the property market would look very different!
A bit if common sense, speaking to the right people (neighbours, mortgage company) and that should guide you.

WowIlikereallyhateyou · 20/07/2022 18:20

To say “ do not touch with a barge pole” is a very old fashioned view of knotweed. It is now understood and there are lots of ways to get rid of it. Years ago when we didnt know so much about it people ran scared of it. Now it is in most towns and villages. At least you are aware of it.

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