UKC

We are thinking of buying a house. The commercial property next door has some (not loads) Japanese Knotweeed growing up to the boundary of the property, which is 15m away from the house itself.

How much of a problem is this likely to be?

In reply to Dan Arkle:
could be a problem. as you know very, very invasive and the fact that it is a commercial property next door would make me concerned about maintaing it. Before commiting to the house, why not contact your potential neighbours directly and ask if they have plans to remove/kill it?

In reply to Dan Arkle:

Not had experience myself, but heard it is pretty bad:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-15461880

In reply to Dan Arkle:

It's hard to eradicate.
A big problem for your garden. It grows through and around anything. I suspect the property owner will have cut back what is already in the garden, so it's not visible and if they haven't, it's only a matter of time before it appears.

In reply to Dan Arkle:

Speak to the Council, I think the owners will be required by law to eradicate, which is a difficult and expensive process.

In reply to The New NickB:

My understanding is that its an offence to propogate or transport it (or cause it to be propagated or transported), but not to have it. You don't have to deal with it if you've got it, except to ensure that it doesn't spread.

The zone of influence is 7000mm radius and 3000mm depth from any shoot. I'd not do anything until the growing season, tho': as has been mentioned above, it might have been cut back, and you might well already have it in the proposed garden.

Eradication is very difficult and costly.
Y.

In reply to Dan Arkle:
it worth checking round the garden for any cut back stems. if you do need to manage it. spray Glysophate on to the foliage a couple of times a year this will take about three years to completely kill it off. or look into stem injection of Glysophate which will kill it off in one hit. don't be tempted to try and dig it out as the root systems can be up to 5meters deep.

In reply to The New NickB:


Are you sure? It seems pretty common place along railway embankments these days.

In reply to EeeByGum:

No, but I know there are some obligations. Y's expination seems reasonable, not that the actions of Network Rail should be used as a benchmark for legality or best practice.

In reply to Dan Arkle:

Not as bad as you think any more. I worked for a company many years ago who had a real issue with it. They did a little research and were able to get rid without too much difficulty.

In reply to Dan Arkle:

The garden of the house I grew up in backed on to a deep railway cutting behind a 3ft brick wall, the embankment thick with knotweed (the dead stems made great lances/swordsticks). It never became a problem, just took a little vigilance during the growing season.

In reply to Dan Arkle:

It's one tough weed but there are companies who specialise in dealing with it. I've seen it grow maybe 10ft in a couple of months. As far as I can remember it takes possibly upto a couple of years, during which you can't plant anything, of cutting back and spraying new shoots with killer!

I learnt this from Help my House is Falling Down BTW - channel 4/4OD.

The problem could be that it's not upto you but your potential neighbour who may or may not be bothered - especially if it's rented etc. I also think mortgage companies don't lend on houses with knotweed.

There we go. Those Victorians have alot to answer for...

In reply to DynamoCL: I couldn't imagine why a weed growing outside could be a problem til i saw this.

I've just spoken to the man who rents the commercial land and he says he's been treating it with some success for the last few years. Its reassuring to know that he is on-side with controlling it.
Thanks for the replies

In reply to Dan Arkle:

Are you getting a mortgage? I've heard of someone mortgage companies refusing to lend because of the presence of Japanese Knotweed