JAPANESE KNOTWEED
A GROWING PROBLEM
WHAT IS IT?
• Japanese Knotweed (Fallopia japonica)
was first introduced to Britain by the
Victorians as an ornamental plant - and
was actually awarded a gold medal at a
prestigious flower show.
• This plant is perennial and extremely
invasive. It thrives on disturbance. The
tiniest piece can re-grow, and has been
spread by both natural means and by
human activity
WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?
It can be recognised by the following:
• lush green in colour
• shovel shaped leaves
• stem is bamboo like in appearance
• produces white flowers around September
or October
• can grow by 10cm a day
WHAT HARM CAN IT CAUSE?
• IT GROWS THROUGH TARMAC AND
CONCRETE
• IT UNDERMINES FOUNDATIONS
• IT REDUCES LAND VALUE
• IT CAN BE EXPENSIVE TO TREAT
IF YOU CAUSE JAPANESE KNOTWEED TO SPREAD YOU ARE
GUILTY OF AN OFFENCE UNDER THE WILDLIFE AND
COUNTRYSIDE ACT 1981
HOW CAN I CONTROL IT?
• SPRAY IT WITH HERBICIDE (such as Round
Up, Tumbleweed and Tough Weed Gun); or
• CUT IT DOWN; or
• PULL IT UP (DO NOT DIG IT UP); or
• A COMBINATION OF SPRAYING & CUTTING
TREATMENT CAN TAKE YEARS TO TOTALLY
ERADICATE IT
HOW DO I DISPOSE OF IT?
• BURN IT ON SITE IN A CONTROLLED
MANNER; or
• TAKE IT TO AN AUTHORISED DEEP LANDFIL
SITE; or
• DRY IT OUT AND THEN COMPOST IT; or
• EMPLOY A CONTRACTOR TO TREAT IT
DO NOT TAKE IT TO A RECYCLING CENTRE –
THEY WILL NOT TAKE IT
WHERE CAN I FIND INFORMATION
YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION AT:
https://www.gov.uk/japanese-knotweedgiant-hogweed-and-other-invasive-plants
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications
/japanese-knotweed-managing-ondevelopment-sites
REMEMBER – EARLY TREATMENT CAN SAVE A
LOT OF TIME AND MONEY