If you are searching for information on how fast Japanese Knotweed grows, you may be worried if you have a problem, or you could just be really interested in Japanese Knotweed! Either way, this blog can help answer your questions.
Firstly, it can be hard to identify Japanese Knotweed, especially if you have never encountered it before. This is even after it has been around in the UK since the 1800s and continues to be an issue for many land and homeowners.
In Japan, the growth of Japanese Knotweed is controlled by natural predators that don’t exist here in the UK. This is why our services exist: to help eradicate and manage Japanese Knotweed and other invasive plants introduced by humans to our ecosystem.
The plant is so persistent that its spread is regulated under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, making it illegal to cause its growth in the wild. Proper Japanese Knotweed disposal is critical, with licensed landfills being the only legal way to dispose of knotweed waste.
How Fast Does Japanese Knotweed Grow, and Why Is It a Problem?
So, how fast does Japanese Knotweed grow? In the summer, the peak growing season for this invasive plant, it can grow up to 10cm a day, making it one of the UK’s fastest-growing invasive plants.
This excessive growth is one reason Japanese Knotweed can quickly become an issue if not treated correctly. Even though the small shoots can seem pretty harmless at first left to grow, they can become a vast dense canopy, making it harder to eradicate.
This is one way it can cause issues for the UK ecosystem: the plants grow tall enough to shield other plants from sunlight and oxygen, killing them off.
In the winter, the above-ground plant dies back. The leaves and flowers wither and turn brown as the plant enters its dormant phase. This can be an issue when identifying Japanese Knotweed in the winter months, as it can appear to have died. However, as we have mentioned, Japanese Knotweed is extremely resilient, with a robust root system that can sometimes remain dormant for many years before making an appearance.
The tell-tale heart-shaped leaves and white flowers are not visible, but the underground rhizome system remains active, ensuring the plant can start its new growth pattern in the warmer months.
The strong root system of Japanese Knotweed often causes the most issues for homeowners; this can exploit weaknesses in buildings, driveways and walls, which may cause costly damage.
How High Can Japanese Knotweed Grow?
When left to its own devices, Japanese Knotweed can grow as high as 7 feet tall. If this isn’t controlled upon identification, both the above-ground plants and the Japanese Knotweed rhizome system beneath will soon spread across land, and it does not let things like homes or drain systems get in its way.
The rhizome system is also very hardy, so a professional must treat and remove it correctly. Although DIY removal may seem like a cost-effective option, it can leave small fragments of the root system behind. These fragments will quickly regrow, and you will be back to square one.
Key Steps in Professional Knotweed Removal
- Survey and Assessment: Knotweed specialists conduct a thorough survey to determine the extent of the infestation.
- Management Plan: We will put together a treatment plan, including the removal method, costs and how many treatments it will take to sort the issue.
- Herbicide Treatment: Applied over multiple sessions to weaken and kill the plant.
- Excavation: The plant and its root systems are dug out and safely disposed of at licensed landfills for severe cases.
- Monitoring: Regular checks ensure no regrowth during subsequent growing seasons.
Why Hire Knotweed Specialists?
Dealing with Japanese knotweed requires expertise to comply with legal requirements and ensure complete eradication. Our team offers tailored treatment plans and provides insurance-backed guarantees to give homeowners peace of mind. Professional removal not only protects your property but also prevents the spread of this invasive weed to neighbouring areas.
