Dealing with Japanese Knotweed in Glasgow
Japanese Knotweed receives a lot of hysterical attention, and pragmatic voices can be few and far between. The truth is, in many situations, japanese knotweed removal can be dealt with by any professional gardener armed with a management plan. Larger and more complex infestations of japanese knotweed may require a specialist contractor - but you will always be better off by getting an independent assessment to begin with. Tom Angel offers japanese knotweed surveying services in Glasgow, as well as working as a garden designer and garden consultant.
Throughout Glasgow, Japanese Knotweed can be seen along rivers and in gardens, along with other non-native invasive weeds such as Himalayan Balsam and Giant Hogweed. Both Japanese Knotweed and Himalayan Balsam seem to be a little more prevalent on water courses, and Giant Hogweed along railway lines (and neighbouring properties).
Key to your approach when faced with the likes of Japanese Knotweed in your Glasgo garden, is te decision over whether to attempt eradication or control. Total removal of the japanese knotweed may be necessary for reasons such as a proposed new construction on the site, but often control is the realistic and cost-effective solution. Indeed, if your property is on the edge of a river or stream, there is little point attempting a costly eradication, only to find that the Japanese Knotweed or Himalayan Balsam arrives from neighbouring areas and re-infests te area. The same would apply for Giant Hogweed.
Eradication and control options are very much site-specific and range from excavation and burial or removal, to applying commercial-grade weed-killers on a scheduled basis to achieve control. Be sure of one thing though, Japanese Knotweed is an ingenious plant, and whilst it rarely sets seed in Glasgow or anywhere in the UK, it spreads vigorously using underground stems called rhizomes. Himalayan Balasam and Giant Hogweed are theoretically easier to control by not allowing them to set seed over a number of years in order to gain the upper hand.
A management plan by an independent consultant will mean that you are armed with the right information to engage professional gardeners with the correct spraying certificates, or specialist contractors to deal with your japanese knotweed removal (or other invasive weed infestation) be that in Glasgow or beyond.
Remember that there are other invasive and problematic weeds that need to be dealt with using a management plan also, including invasive bamboo, and even Buddleja - the much-loved ‘Butterfly Bush’ that is actually more capable than Japanese Knotweed of damaging buildings and hard surfaces. (You’ll be glad to hear that Buddleja is much easier to control though!)
Angel Horticulture Ltd offers Japanese Knotweed Surveys in Glasgow - Tom Angel is a Certified Surveyor of Japanese Knotweed (CSJK), the gold standard qualification operated by the industry body the Property Care Association, who look after property issues ranging from damp to invasive weeds. Tom is also a horticultural garden consultant and qualified garden designer based in Glasgow.