Village is a hotspot for invasive plant
Japanese knotweed is the most ‘aggressive, destructive’ plant
SHARNFORD is among the top places in Leicestershire for reported infestations of Japanese knotweed.
There have been nine infestations within a four-kilometre radius of the village, according to the Japanese knotweed UK Heat Map created by Environet UK.
Homeowners spending more time than usual in their gardens may discover the red asparagus-like shoots which quickly grows into shrubs with heart-shaped green leaves and pink-flecked stems.
Leicester was the top spot across the county for infestations, with 15 incidents, while Thurmaston and Glenfield have had 11 each and Coalville has had eight.
The plant has been described by the Environment Agency as “indisputably the UK’s most aggressive, destructive and invasive plant”.
It grows rampantly along railways, waterways, in parks and gardens and is notoriously difficult to treat without professional help.
It can reduce a property’s value by about 10 per cent and make it difficult to sell unless a treatment plan is in place with an insurance-backed guarantee, which will satisfy mortgage lenders.
Homeowners who discover the plant can report it on Exposed UK using the ‘Add sighting’ feature, uploading a photo for verification by experts.
According to Environet UK, some four to five per cent of UK houses are currently affected, either directly or indirectly.
Nic Seal, founder and managing director of Environet, said: “Our message to homeowners who discover Japanese knotweed growing in their garden over the next few weeks is not to panic and resist the temptation themselves.
“In most cases knotweed can still be removed during the lockdown period, but if this isn’t possible it won’t make a huge amount of difference to leave the plant growing until restrictions are lifted.
“A failed attempt to dig it up could help it spread and spraying the plant with herbicide makes professional treatment more difficult further down the line.
“Where we cannot treat or remove knotweed due to current Covid-19 restrictions, we pledge to tackle at no further cost any resulting spread on clients’ to deal with it property.” Herbicide treatments don’t take place until early June when the plant is in full leaf, with homeowners advised to book treatments early.
If you’re hoping to sell your home, you can use this time to deal with the problem and secure a 10-year insurancebacked guarantee for the work, to help your sale progress smoothly.
Sellers are legally obliged to inform buyers if a property is or has been affected by knotweed.
Do not attempt to kill the knotweed by mowing it, covering it, setting fire to it, or dousing it in bleach or petrol. This will not destroy the plant’s vast underground root system and you could aid its spread.
Japanese knotweed cannot be put in a green bin as it’s classed as controlled waste and has to be disposed of at an authorised landfill site.
Visit the Environet UK website to see the heat map, where hotspots are highlighted in yellow or, for the most severe cases, red.
If you think you have Japanese knotweed growing in your garden, email a photo to expert@environetuk.com for free identification.