What do Japanese knotweed leaves look like?
When the plant is in foliage, Japanese knotweed leaves are bright green and feature a signature shield or heart-shaped leaf. Each leaf has a pointed end and is arranged at staggered, even intervals along the stem. Leaves can be up to 14cm long, but don’t expect to see any during the winter, as the plants green foliage doesn’t last through the colder months.
What do Japanese knotweed roots look like?
Japanese knotweed roots are comprised of a network of rhizomes. These tough, woody roots can collect together in large crowns which can be difficult to remove from the ground without the help of machinery. Rhizomes are dark brown on the outside and orange on the inside, you can usually break them in your hands unless they have grown into a larger clump or ‘crown’.
Does Japanese knotweed have red stems?
Japanese knotweed can be recognised by its red stems when it first emerges in spring, however, this colouration does not remain consistent throughout its lifespan. As the plant matures, the stem takes on a less distinctive green colour with mauve spots. It should be noted that these stems are cane-like in their appearance, growing in clearly defined segments with a hollow centre, similar to that of bamboo.
What do the flowers of Japanese knotweed look like?
Japanese knotweed flowers are often described as ‘creamy white’ and appear towards the end of summer, from late August to September. Growing in clusters up to 10cm long, they appear alongside the bright green leaves, combining to create a large vegetative mass. Related species of Japanese knotweed can be adorned with similar clusters of flowers in shades of pink and red.
What does Japanese knotweed look like in spring?
The plant can be difficult to spot until major growth above the surface begins to take place. Early spring is usually when the first Japanese knotweed shoots begin to appear, usually at the base of old canes (in the case of patches that are more than a season old). Knotweed shoots can be spotted by their bright red or pink tips. These pinkish redbuds grow to be around 1-3cm wide but do not keep this distinctive colour for long.
Once spring is well and truly underway, shoots take on a greener hue and become easier to spot due to their accelerated growth. Now growing as spear-shaped shoots, sometimes described as ‘asparagus-like, the leaves are red and rolled up, but they soon turn green as the plant grows skyward.
What does Japanese knotweed look like in summer?
Japanese knotweed is typically easier to spot during the summer as this is when the plant is most visible above ground. Growth accelerates significantly during summer making the plant much more conspicuous. The hollow stems grow up to 2cm a day and the leaves now assume their most recognisable shield shape with an alternating stem pattern. This presents a good opportunity to treat the problem with a PCA-accredited glyphosate programme, professionals are able to assess an infestation and inject each plant with their specialist equipment.
By mid-summer knotweed plants are close to reaching their full height (between 1.9-3m). The stems are now less green and are rigid with more pronounced dark purple speckles. Clear nodes are visible on these stems giving them the appearance of bamboo, they can also be snapped easily in the hand. It’s not until late summer that Japanese knotweed flowers; multiple bunches of creamy white flowers appear amidst the leaves, but the seeds that are produced from this process rarely lead to new growths.
What does Japanese knotweed look like in autumn?
As Autumn progresses, the characteristically bright yellow leaves turn a vivid yellow and the plant sheds seed cases. If the weed is left to its own devices the leaves and flowers will eventually begin to fade and fall back. Leaves fall off the stems which start turning brown and then a pale straw colour as winter progresses, also taking on a more rigid, woody form.
Does Japanese knotweed die back in winter?
Knotweed appears to ‘die back’ during winter, but it’s unwise to assume that the problem is simply gone. In the middle of winter, all that remains above ground is a collection of pale, dry canes with the rhizomes lying dormant beneath the surface waiting for warm weather to sprout and spread further. Whilst the plant enters this dormant phase it is still very much alive.
Have you just found Japanese knotweed?
Discovering a knotweed infestation can be an unpleasant and costly experience, leaving you with a financial burden that you could be saddled with for years, however, you might not be liable for all of these costs.
Whether you’ve just discovered your knotweed infestation or you’ve been sitting on it for a while, we’ll able to accurately assess your financial risk and formulate a plan of action so that you can begin the process of removing it from your property and work on obtaining the costs from whoever is responsible.
We’re happy to offer guidance to property owners who’ve been affected by Japanese knotweed, this includes obtaining costs and seeking compensation where necessary. We can put you in touch with accredited specialists who can safely eradicate the knotweed from your property and give you the necessary paperwork to back it up.
These are just some of the issues that can arise from a Japanese knotweed infestation:
Issues with selling your property. Many mortgage lenders will not lend on properties affected by Japanese knotweed, and some may not lend if there is Japanese knotweed on neighbouring land.
Decrease in property value. Due to the stigma attached to this plant, a property’s value could decrease by as much as 25%, unless it is properly treated.
Legal liability. It is against the law to allow this plant to spread from one property to another. If your infestation has arrived from a neighbouring property then you could have legal recourse.
Get in touch using the contact form, or call 0151 244 7571 today for a FREE consultation.
Start Your Claim
