I've spotted that a neighbor has some Japanese knotweed in their garden, but sadly, the property is currently empty as it's a rental. I'm worried about it spreading either on its own or if someone tries to pull it up. Besides just dumping glyphosate and notifying the council, what can I do to safeguard my property? I also have a gravel driveway that tends to get a lot of weeds. I've tried using black matting, but it didn't help much. Is there a strong residual weedkiller that I can apply to the gravel to prevent general weeds while also minimizing the risk of knotweed spreading to my place?
5 Answers
If you’re close to a railway line, it might be worth contacting Network Rail. They have a responsibility to manage knotweed and often treat areas near railways regularly. They even sprayed my neighbors' gardens part of their comeback plan!
Honestly, you should ditch the weed matting and try laying old cardboard instead—it works better and is biodegradable. And if you want to use a weed killer, remember that nothing can really be preventing unless you want to poison your soil. You should also report the knotweed to the council; the landlord has a legal duty to manage it properly.
For Japanese knotweed, focus on targeting the plant's stems directly with herbicide injections rather than spraying the soil. This is important because spraying can harm other plants and won't reach the roots effectively. It might also help to reach out to the property owners or report it to the council to ensure they handle it correctly.
You should definitely document the knotweed's presence on their property and inform them about it. Keeping good records is key because if it spreads to your place, they could be liable for the removal costs since they have a responsibility to manage it properly.
I've dealt with knotweed before too. A local company quoted us a ridiculous £4,000 for removal! Instead, I bought some glyphosate and injected it down the stems, and it hasn't come back for three years. Don't stress too much unless it weeds its way onto your property. If it does, just ensure you handle it correctly, and it's not as hard to kill as you might think!