Can Japanese Knotweed Come Back After Treatment?
Japanese knotweed is one of the most invasive species in the UK. Having been brought over as a decorative plant in the Victorian times, it was not listed as an invasive species until more recently when researchers discovered it’s ability to spread and takeover uncontrollably.
When it comes to removing this invasive plant, you will need to ensure you employ the services of a professional eradication service, as not only can they provide guarantees for removal, but they can also use techniques not available to the general public.
But the question often asked is, can Japanese knotweed come back after treatment? Today, the experts at Japanese Knotweed Specialists discuss.
Is it Possible for Japanese Knotweed to Grow Back After Treatment?
Yes, it is possible for Japanese knotweed to grow back after treatment. Japanese knotweed requires more than just one herbicide treatment to be fully eradicated and even a few grams of root left in soil means the plant can grow back .
Why Does Japanese Knotweed Grow Back After Treatments?
Treatments such as stem injection or herbicide treatments can take at least three years to be effective, and in cases where Japanese knotweed has spread over a large distance, can take even longer. As it’s not spread through seeds, but instead by a rhizome (root) system, knotweed can be spreading underground even if the plant looks dead above ground.
Where treatment plans haven’t been carried out by professionals, or have been done in a hurry, knotweed can still be found and remain dormant for many years. If disturbed, such as by deep excavation or housebuilding, it will grow back and cause even more havoc.
Can Japanese Knotweed Lie Dormant?
Yes, a small fragment (the size of a thumbnail) of knotweed rhizome can lie dormant for up to 20 years and be viable for growth still. Things like housebuilding or extensive excavation can awaken the rhizome and will cause it to grow back quickly.
Reasons That Japanese Knotweed Grows Back After Treatment
A Cheap Solution Has Been Used
If your regular gardener has simply bought Roundup and applies one treatment, then this may stop some initial growth, but in the long run, knotweed will still grow and sprout back up come the following spring.
Cheap solutions, such as DIY approaches, can work in the short term, but for long term eradication, it is not a successful solution.
The Plant Has Been Chopped Down
If you’ve approached removing Japanese knotweed by just chopping the plant off at the root, this will not do anything to stop the spread of knotweed.
Japanese knotweed spreads through a hardy root system, which will continue to grow, even if there is no plant above. Knotweed roots have been known to grow through buildings, roads and pavements. It’s an incredibly powerful and strong plant.
Japanese Knotweed Plants Were Not Correctly Disposed Of
Japanese knotweed is a listed plant, and as such, it is seen as a controlled waste under the Environment Protection Act of 1990. This means that it must be disposed of in an appropriate manner by a licensed waste carrier.
If Japanese knotweed is not removed and disposed of correctly, then there will be a high chance it can grow back and take over.
How Can You Ensure That Japanese Knotweed Does Not Grow Back?
The first is to use a licensed and fully accredited company such as Japanese Knotweed Specialists. By using an expert such as ourselves, you’ll have access to surveyors with years of experience who will work with our team to come up with a Japanese knotweed management plan to remove knotweed from your land.
We were the first company to offer a 35-year insurance backed guarantee for our services. This guarantee covers the property, not you, so if you sell your home, the new buyers are covered too. It also means, in the rare occurrences where our work is not successful, we will come back and remove the knotweed at our cost, not yours.
By combining the expert removal plans of Japanese Knotweed Specialists with our industry leading guarantees, you can ensure that not only is the likelihood of knotweed returning low, but in the case that it does, you are protected by GPI insurance backed guarantees.
Get in Touch Today
At Japanese Knotweed Specialists, we will work tirelessly to ensure that Japanese knotweed is removed from your property. Speak to one of our specialists today by calling us on 0800 122 3326 or fill out a form today.