In addition to many satisfied customers, we are helping combat the spread of non-native species in Scotland. We urge people to learn how to identify these weeds as they can spread at an alarming rate if left untreated.

If you need  assistance with identifying Japanese knotweed or any other invasive weeds (Horsetail, Himalayan balsam, Giant hogweed, etc.)  or if you require weed control services, please call Invasive Weeds Agency Ltd on 0131 441 2953 or email us here.

IWA. Getting to the root of the problem.

Horsetail: An Invasive Weed

Many gardeners are aware of the invasive nature of Horsetail (Equisetum arvense) and how rapidly it spreads. It is, however, commonly overlooked by delevopers and builders due to being small, green and lacking flowers. Unlike Giant hogweed or Japanese knotweed, its menace is subtle.  As a result, it is can often be found growing through pavements or emerging from beneath buildings, considered as nothing more than a little weed. By failing to realise that Horsetail poses a threat to structures in a similar way to Japanese knotweed, exploiting any areas of weakness, it can add additional costs to development projects as well as adding additional time whilst weed removal takes place.

Not only is this invasive weed a nuisance to people, it can kill livestock if they eat it because it contains Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids and thiaminase, causing thiamine deficiency as well as Bovine Liver disease (click here for more info).

Horsetail can spread through wind dispersal of its spores, by it using its rhizome network or regeneration from rhizome fragments.

Invasive Weeds Agency Ltd offers a range of treatment options to eradicate Horsetail.

If you need  assistance with identifying Horsetail or any other invasive weeds (Japanese knotweed, Himalayan balsam, Giant hogweed, etc.)  or if you require weed control services, please call Invasive Weeds Agency Ltd on 0131 441 2953 or email us here.

IWA. Getting to the root of the problem.

Giant Hogweed Dying After Herbicide Treatment

Scenes like the one pictured are common across Scotland as the fight against Giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum) continues. It is an imperative that the Giant hogweed plants are prevented from producing seeds this year in order to reduce the infestations of this invasive weed over the years to come. Due to the large number of seeds each plant may produce (approximately 50,000), it is likely that it will take several years of herbicide treatment to diminish the seed bank present in the soil. If the Giant hogweed is not treated soon then it will be too late to stop this year’s seeds from spreading, which means next year’s infestation could be even greater and so could the removal costs.

If you have Giant hogweed present on your land it is vital that you DO NOT TOUCH IT! The sap is toxic and can cause severe burns and blindness.

If you need any assistance with identifying Giant hogweed or any other invasive weeds (Japanese knotweed, Himalayan balsam, Horsetail, etc.)  or if you require weed control services, please call Invasive Weeds Agency Ltd on 0131 441 2953 or email us here.

IWA. Getting to the root of the problem.

Dock is often mistaken for Japanese knotweed

To the untrained eye, invasive weeds look like any other plants. Green and leafy, common enough that they don’t stand out , there is little to suggest how big a problem they are in the Scotland.

Misidentifying species such as Japanese knotweed, Giant hogweed and Himalayan balsam can cause a lot of problems. We are often asked to survey sites where one or more of these weeds has been identified, only to find that the weeds are not present and that our visit has been a waste of time apart from being able to inform the landowner or agent of the defining features of the weeds they thought they had. Unscrupulous weed control companies will happily remove the plants which were thought to be a menace, at great expense to the unsuspecting landowner.

Another problem of misidentification is the accidental spread of non-native invasive weeds. Often people do not realise that they have, for example, Japanese knotweed growing on their land. They may mistake it for Dock (as pictured) or Dogwood and look to dig it out by hand or cut it back, throwing the remains onto their compost heap or putting it in their recycling bin.

At Invasive Weeds Agency Ltd, we aim to educate as many people as possible about the problems caused by invasive weeds. We believe that education can help reduce the spread of these plants. Weed Identification sheets can be downloaded from our website.

For advice and assistance on Japanese knotweed eradication and weed control services, please call Invasive Weeds Agency Ltd on 0131 441 2953.

IWA. Getting to the root of the problem.

Japanese knotweed was stabilising riverbank

It’s hard to believe that the nation’s most hated plant, Japanese knotweed, is actually helping keep parts of the Scotland together. It’s woody rhizome (underground stem) network helps bind embankments together and prevents them from eroding. If the Japanese knotweed is killed then there is a risk that the embankment will erode. As this picture shows, the riverbank in the foreground has eroded because the Japanese knotweed has been treated with herbicide. The knotweed on the island has not been treated and it is successfully growing in the middle of a fast flowing river in Aberdeen.

Some people may think that in cases such as this then it is best to let the Japanese knotweed grow to prevent losing valuable land. Wrong! It’s best to eradicate this non-native plant to prevent it easily spreading downstream and infesting other land. There are plenty of options available for stabilising riverbanks including planting native species such as willows.

For advice and assistance on Japanese knotweed eradication,  engineering options for bank stabilisation and weed control services, please call Invasive Weeds Agency Ltd on 0131 441 2953.

IWA. Getting to the root of the problem.

Japanese knotweed growing through tarmac

We urge homeowners and developers to check their properties for Japanese knotweed. If you find this invasive weed then please contact us so we can eradicate! The longer it is left, the bigger it will get, the more damage it will cause and the more it will cost you to get rid of it.

For advice and assistance on Japanese knotweed eradication and weed control please call Invasive Weeds Agency Ltd on 0131 441 2953.

IWA. Getting to the root of the problem.

Young Himalayan Balsam

Across the UK, Himalayan balsam is beginning to appear. The distinctive red, hollow stems and large toothed leaves can be seen in ditches, wasteland and riverbanks nationwide. Its vigorous growth enables it to dominate native species by depriving them of light. Soon, these small Himalayan balsam plants will reach 2 metres in height, ready to spread their seeds further afield. The real threat they pose is evident in winter when they die off, exposing the ground they once dominated.  The bare ground is susceptible to erosion from heavy rainfall.

In England and Wales, Himalyan balsam has been added to the 2010 Variation of Schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. For further information please look at my last blog entry here.

Let’s tackle this invasive weed before it produces seeds this year!

For advice and assistance on weed control and  knotweed eradication please call Invasive Weeds Agency Ltd on 0131 441 2953

Himalayan Balsam (Impatiens glandulifera)

The 2010 Variation of Schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 now includes Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera), Giant knotweed (Fallopia  sachalinensis) and Hybrid knotweed (Fallopia japonica x Fallopia  sachalinensis). The threat of legal action being taken against anyone causing the spread of these species will, hopefully, aid the removal of non-native species from the UK. At the moment, however, the inclusion of these weeds to the Act only applies in England and Wales. 2011 will see a complete restructuring of invasive weeds legislation in Scotland.

For advice and assistance on weed control and  knotweed eradication please call Invasive Weeds Agency Ltd on 0131 441 2953

The Times reported today about the terrible case of a boy who suffered such bad burns from Giant hogweed that he required a skin graft. Hopefully, by raising awareness about the dangers of Giant hogweed and how to identify the plant, cases like this can be prevented. The full story can be found on the paper’s website http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/ireland/article7107284.ece

For advice and assistance on Giant hogweed removal, invasive weed control and Japanese knotweed eradication please call Invasive Weeds Agency Ltd on 0131 441 2953

We urge you to avoid touching Giant hogweed otherwise you risk serious chemical burns from its phototoxic sap.

For advice and assistance on Giant hogweed removal, invasive weed control and Japanese knotweed eradication please call Invasive Weeds Agency Ltd on 0131 441 2953

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