Japanese knotweed infestation, Scotland
The Daily Record has published an article on Japanese knotweed. A couple who bought a house from their local council have discovered Japanese knotweed on their property and they are hoping that the council will pay for its removal. Full details of the story can be found here.
If you discover Japanese knotweed on your land and need assistance with its removal or any other invasive weeds (Horsetail, Himalayan balsam, Giant hogweed, etc.) or if you require ecology services, please call Invasive Weeds Agency Ltd on 0131 441 2953 or email us here.
IWA. Getting to the root of the problem.
We, the team at Invasive Weeds Agency Ltd, are regularly asked to help identify Japanese knotweed in locations across the UK. Our website provides free identification sheets as part of our commitment to educating people with a view to reducing the spread of invasive weeds.
To further assist with the identification of invasive weeds, we have added photographs on our Flickr page here.
For assistance 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.
Japanese knotweed in winter
As we approach 2011, the fight to remove Japanese knotweed continues in Scotland. During the winter months there is still work to be done to ensure successful eradication of non-native invasive weeds.
We continue to offer free advice about these plants because we believe education is vital to prevent them spreading further. More information on these weeds can be found within our website.
2010 was a successful year for Invasive Weeds Agency Ltd with us providing solutions to clients for invasive weeds such as Japanese knotweed, giant hogweed, Himalayan balsam and horsetail. We are looking forward to the new year and the challenges ahead of us. We are committed to providing the best weed treatment methods to meet the requirements of our clients.
To find out how to save time and money on Japanese knotweed removal or any other invasive weeds (Horsetail, Himalayan balsam, Giant hogweed, etc.) or if you require ecology services, please call Invasive Weeds Agency Ltd on 0131 441 2953 or email us here.
IWA. Getting to the root of the problem.
As the growing season draws to a close and autumn sets in, Japanese knotweed across Scotland has started shedding its leaves. To the untrained eye, this may look like the scourge of this invasive weed has been quelled but do not be fooled. The rhizomes remain active underground during the winter months, ready to produce new stems in 2011. For this reason, we urge landowners to deal with their Japanese knotweed infestations as soon as possible.
There are many solutions available over the autumn and winter months for removing this weed as well as others such as Giant hogweed, Himalayan balsam and Horsetail. Thinking ahead can save time and money because quick fix solutions such as ‘Dig and Dump’ can cost a fortune and have a negative impact on the environment.
To find out how to save time and money on Japanese knotweed removal or any other invasive weeds (Horsetail, Himalayan balsam, Giant hogweed, etc.) or if you require ecology 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 in Scotland
The Inverness Courier has reported that a man has suffered very bad burns after cutting down some Giant hogweed. The full story can be found here.
IF YOU FIND GIANT HOGWEED DO NOT TOUCH IT! The sap is toxic and can cause severe burns and blindness.
We urge people to learn about Giant hogweed and the threat it poses. Identification of this invasive weed is easy due to its size. Please visit our page on Giant hogweed identification here.
For 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.
Job Done: Japanese Knotweed Removal in Scotland
At different points throughout the year, weed removal jobs we have been working on come to an end (see picture). Japanese knotweed is the weed we are asked to eradicate most often. It can be viewed as one of the easiest weeds to get rid of because, unlike Giant hogweed, Himlayan balsam or Ragwort, it does not produce viable seeds and therefore its removal does not require eliminating a large seed bank over many years.
Our expertise allows us to get rid of all of these non-native invasive weeds within a reasonable timescale for very competitive prices.
To find out how we can help you with the removal of Japanese knotweed, any other invasive weeds (Horsetail, Himalayan balsam, Giant hogweed, etc.) or if you require ecology services, please call Invasive Weeds Agency Ltd on 0131 441 2953 or email us here.
IWA. Getting to the root of the problem.
If you have Japanese knotweed, Giant hogweed, Himalayan balsam, Horsetail, Ragwort or any other invasive weeds then why not ask the experts, Invasive Weeds Agency Ltd to get rid of them? It is, after all, what we specialise in. We know how to get rid of Japanese knotweed and all manner of other invasive plants and have done so successfully on many sites across Scotland.
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.
