As if affecting our homes and gardens wasn't enough, Japanese knotweed also causes significant riverbank erosion. This nightmare plant impacts wildlife welfare, our water quality and can even increase flooding.
Japanese knotweed characteristics
Japanese knotweed is classed as an invasive species in the UK today. That is, the plant is not native to our ecosystem and outcompetes our homeland flora and fauna.
Worse still, Japanese knotweed has no natural enemy in the UK, meaning it grows wildly out of control.
Causing riverbank erosion
Unfortunately, knotweed’s rapid growth means it gets tall and dense around our waterways in the summer. But as a herbaceous perennial, Japanese knotweed dies back in the winter. This leaves our riverbanks exposed and open to significant erosion.
UK wildlife at risk
Japanese knotweed is a bully in the plant world! Its large, leafy canopies and robust canes dominate other plants and wildlife.
In fact, Japanese knotweed reduces sunlight for fish and other aquatic life, but also produces gases to stop nearby plants growing. And where there is less plant diversity, there is less food for our birds and critters to eat
Flooding risk increases
With Japanese knotweed growing and decaying around our riverbanks, the risk of flooding is worse than ever. Not only does the plant’s thick canopy divert rain where it’s not meant to be, but the dead canes in the winter obstruct drains and sluices. This then causes riverbanks to break – never good!
Once more, flooding can help spread Japanese knotweed
How to stop Japanese knotweed from spreading
Japanese knotweed spreads like wildfire. So, what can you do to prevent it causing more chaos? Take these three simple steps:
- If you spot Japanese knotweed growing around waterways, report it to your local council.
- Should your land abut a river infested by Japanese knotweed and you are worried it will (or may already have) affected your property, request a Japanese knotweed survey by a professional and trusted company.
- Ask Japanese knotweed removal experts to treat or excavate the growth on your land.
If you have any questions about Japanese knotweed, or to get your treatment plan in place, contact the TCM team today.
