We’re delighted to see that ex-Manchester United and England footballer Gary Neville knows the score when it comes to Japanese knotweed.

He didn’t hold back following his team’s 4-0 thrashing at Everton last weekend, saying: “If you have weeds in the garden you have to get rid of them – there is some Japanese knotweed at that football club. And it’s attacking the foundations of the house and it needs dealing with properly.”

Our latest research indicates that 78% of British adults are now aware of Japanese knotweed, so Gary is in good company – and he’s quite right about calling in the professionals too!

Japanese knotweed now affects around 5% of UK properties, either directly or indirectly. Most DIY attempts at treating it fail. It’s not possible to burn it and it’s extremely unlikely that any attempt at digging it out yourself will be successful as the plant can regrow from a tiny piece of rhizome as small as a fingernail. In fact, you are more likely to unwittingly spread the knotweed than to get rid of it.

If you suspect you have Japanese knotweed on your property, the first thing to do is take a photograph and email it to us at [email protected] for free identification. If your suspicions are correct, our team will carry out a Japanese knotweed survey to check for any visible presence of the plant, the extent of any infestation and its likely source or origin. We will make recommendations about the best way to treat or remove it in a Japanese Knotweed Management Plan.

Herbicide treatments involve spraying the plant during two annual growing seasons (April to September), with a monitoring visit in the third and fourth year to check for any regrowth. Any small re-growth shoots that emerge can be resprayed. This is the cheapest method, but as the plant can only be treated while it is in leaf, it takes two to three years to complete. It’s also difficult to say for certain that the plant is dead as it can lie dormant in the ground for many years.

Another option, which is much quicker and more environmentally friendly, is to excavate the Japanese knotweed using our Resi-Dig-Out™ method, which involves digging up the soil and sifting through it to remove every tiny piece of knotweed rhizome. It is then disposed of in accordance with the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and the clean soil is returned to the ground. The Japanese knotweed will be completely removed within a matter of days and the treatment can be carried out at any time of year.

To find out more about Japanese knotweed surveys and treatments, please contact Environet today.