Japanese Knotweed..........again

[ron1863]

Originally Posted by mrs fish

It doesn't spread by root underground then ?

It does spread by root but we kept cutting it and we are now weed free with a nice lawn right down to the water's edge. Our neighbour, who left his alone and now has a jungle of knotweed doesn't encroach on ours, probably because we cut the grass weekly and any shoots are cut down. I dare say if we didn't cut it that it would soon take hold again.

[Dan Salter]

Originally Posted by ron1863

It does spread by root but we kept cutting it and we are now weed free with a nice lawn right down to the water's edge. Our neighbour, who left his alone and now has a jungle of knotweed doesn't encroach on ours, probably because we cut the grass weekly and any shoots are cut down. I dare say if we didn't cut it that it would soon take hold again.

Although i still dont advise cutting....it will of course eventually kill the plant over time as the leaves never get chance to photosynthesise...but i just worry about all the small fragements flying out from the mower, maybe into the watercourse and in time ALL your neighbours downstream may have a battle too!

[Adam Cheeseman]

Originally Posted by ladyhawk

never knew you eat it. well you learn something new everyday

Certainly can, let's get the WI making Knotweed jam then we can eat it out of existence

Cheers,

Adam

[Adam Cheeseman]

Originally Posted by mrs fish

It doesn't spread by root underground then ?

All the Japanese Knotweed in this country is female, hence all spread is by vegetative means.

Cheers,

Adam

[coasty]

Dan Salter;276075]Its worrying as it can break through concrete and destroy house foundations and ours is right up to the drive/wooden garage lean too of the house...its also on NATIONAL TRUST land who seem very uninterested in getting rid!

Dan have you considered taking them to court. If the JKW is on national trust land and is spreading onto your property I think there is a strong case for you to insist they control it . It is an offence to knowinly encourage the spread of it.
I have had experience of this plant through work and if it reaches your property it will cause structural damage. I would suggest that as a minimum you take some photographic evidence of the progress of the plant and advise the NT that you are concerned and have recorded the progress of the plant and have recorded the occasions when you have informed the NT of its progress.
I would also check your structural house insurance policy as many have quietly removed risk from this over the last few years. A letter to the local paper or even the news of the world may bring results I am sure the NT would not like the publicity.....

[Dan Salter]

Originally Posted by coasty

Dan have you considered taking them to court. If the JKW is on national trust land and is spreading onto your property I think there is a strong case for you to insist they control it . It is an offence to knowinly encourage the spread of it.
I have had experience of this plant through work and if it reaches your property it will cause structural damage. I would suggest that as a minimum you take some photographic evidence of the progress of the plant and advise the NT that you are concerned and have recorded the progress of the plant and have recorded the occasions when you have informed the NT of its progress.
I would also check your structural house insurance policy as many have quietly removed risk from this over the last few years. A letter to the local paper or even the news of the world may bring results I am sure the NT would not like the publicity.....

Hmmm i do agree but im in a tricky situation being that im into year 2 of my Countryside Management degree and the NT may well be future employers?

However im starting to worry about the house ( mums house to be honest but i would like it to be around a while so i can still inherit it)

Ill give them a polite email me thinks....like i say im happy to spray but cant afford the chemicals in large quantities.

[Kayleigh]

Originally Posted by Dan Salter

Hmmm i do agree but im in a tricky situation being that im into year 2 of my Countryside Management degree and the NT may well be future employers?

However im starting to worry about the house ( mums house to be honest but i would like it to be around a while so i can still inherit it)

Ill give them a polite email me thinks....like i say im happy to spray but cant afford the chemicals in large quantities.

If you get the job first, you can get them to pay for the chemicals

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by Dan Salter

Hmmm i do agree but im in a tricky situation being that im into year 2 of my Countryside Management degree and the NT may well be future employers?

However im starting to worry about the house ( mums house to be honest but i would like it to be around a while so i can still inherit it)

Ill give them a polite email me thinks....like i say im happy to spray but cant afford the chemicals in large quantities.

How about you present it to them like a report, An introduction to the problem, a map illustrating where you have seen it alongside some good id photos of it, a section on the legistlation set out objectively following by a section on treatment methods and perhaps a list of people and thier contact details who could undertake the control in the area so they don't even have to look too far. bind it and put a plastic cover on make it look really good.

The purpose of this is two fold, if you hand it all to them on a plate and no one has to think about it or arrange a meeting about it its more likely to get done. Also it makes you look really good, you have identified a problem on their land and provided a solution in a professional way - this might impress them enough to bear you in mind for future positions.

If you just say 'you have a JK problem deal with it' you mind end up talking to someone who doesn't really understand and you'll just get lip service to make you go away....

[Dan Salter]

Thanks Gill, i was thinking along the same lines already, the last time the Man from NT was here ( to establish the boundary (non fenced) when we moved in) it was me who actually made him aware of the plant....he is a nice guy too but in two years he has only been back to half heartedly spray the plant once and never seen him again....(overworked, too many sites to look after, not enough time etc etc)..so i will do what you sugest i think but also offer to manage the problem for them if they provide equipment and chemicals.

Dan