Public urged to be on the lookout for knotweed
GARDEN owners in Loughborough have been urged to be on the lookout for the highly invasive Japanese knotweed, which can damage patios and homes and which continues to plague the Midlands.
The destructive plant is most easily spotted in early spring but only 22 per cent of adults in the Midlands know how to identify the plant, which is often confused with Bindweed, according to a recent survey.
It can grow through asphalt driveways and brick walls, breaking them apart and causing them to collapse.
The weed springs up in April and May with red or purple asparaguslike shoots, which rapidly grow from the ground.
Its stems have purple flecks and form into hard, hollow canes like bamboo.
As the canes grow, heart-shaped leaves unfurl in a zig-zag pattern and turn green, having distinctive ribs and veins, a smooth edge and a pointed driptip.
The nuisance plant grows at around 10cm a day from May until July, when it is fully grown and can stand up to three metres tall
Knotweed blooms in late summer, when it becomes covered in tiny creamy-white flowers, and during the late autumn, the leaves fall and the canes turn brown and die, although they remain standing.
Residents often mistake other common garden plants for the plant, including Houttuynia, Horsetail, ivy, Russian Vine and peony.
Research from plant removal specialists, Environet, found that knotweed
affects around two per cent of homes in the Midlands.
Nic Seal, founder of Environet, said: “The general public’s ability to spot Japanese knotweed is worryingly low, particularly considering around two per cent of homes in the Midlands are affected, making them difficult to buy and sell and causing disputes between neighbours which can be unpleasant and costly to resolve.
“Homeowners and buyers keen to avoid a run in with this highly destructive and invasive plant should ensure they know what to look out for at different times of year, from the dark red spears that emerge in March or April to the lush green leaves of summer and the deadlooking canes left standing by early winter.
“Awareness of the damage caused by knotweed if it’s left unchecked is thankfully much higher, and people are right to be concerned. Knotweed is best dealt with quickly, before it has a chance to become established and spread.”
Environet offers a free identification service to anyone who is concerned about a suspicious plant growing in their garden.
Email a photo to expert@environetuk.com for expert analysis.
The general public’s ability to spot Japanese knotweed is worryingly low, particularly considering around two per cent of homes in the Midlands are affected