Happy New Year!

Wednesday, January 4th, 2012

We would like to wish everyone a happy and prosperous new year – and also to offer some age old advice on your knotweed treatment…

Keep an eye out for the signs of new shoots as the weather warms up – especially if you know a neighbour has JK.
If you see any signs, don’t hesitate! Take photos, or get someone to look at it now before it’s too late – if it is Knotweed, the sooner you treat it the better, and if it isn’t, wouldn’t you rather have the peace of mind..?

..Something to think about!

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The Alien Invasion Myth…and other stupid comments

Wednesday, December 21st, 2011

Apparently the whole Japanese Knotweed eradication industry is a ‘myth’ …or so some dusty old boffin writing for the Horticultural Society would have us believe.

Alien plants are supposedly not a threat to biodiversity and the truth is that ‘nobody knows’ the real extent of the problem.

He states that alien species are ‘rare’ and that they occur ‘overwhelmingly in and around towns and transport networks’ and are ‘generally uncommon in semi natural habitats that we most want to preserve’.

He notes that Himalayan balsam only displaces ‘other aliens’ or ‘thuggish natives’ – he then further notes that Japanese Knotweed harbours ‘late pollen for bees’

Frankly I don’t know where to start, articles like this make my blood boil.

I could take the author to a multitude of sites around my office without travelling more than 10 miles and show sites that are completely over run with either Japanese Knotweed or Himalayan balsam. These sites would vary from industrial to domestic through to open countryside and SSSI’s.

I am a keen mountain biker and travel all over the country to some of the most remote regions – and I can confirm – I always spot non-native invasive plants….everywhere!

Anybody saying this isn’t an issue is either blind or stupid.

Anybody in a position of credibility saying this isn’t a problem – needs shooting.

Myth : they cost £1.8 billion a year to control

The cost implications of Japanese Knotweed have been detailed in a report titled The Economic Cost of Invasive Species on Great Britain. These are not ‘extrapolations of extrapolations’ – these are figures based on detailed analysis of turnover from the major contractors working in the field of Invasive Species management.

This isn’t a myth - its fact.

Myth : Gardeners are responsible

Much has been made of where these plants originated from and unfortunately (sorry Mr Pearman) they originated from private gardens.

It has been proven time and again that gardeners share their prize plants and offer cuttings and seeds with colleagues and friends - and this is how many of our problem plants were spread around the country.

It is only recently through initiatives such as ‘Be Plant Wise’ that the British Public are being made aware of the problems that Invasive Non Natives can cause.

This isn’t a myth – it’s a fact

Mind you, I suppose if Japanese Knotweed provides ‘late pollen for bees’ – then it must be ok?

Mike C

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Birth of a new industry – Baby gets adopted by Dodgy Parents…

Wednesday, December 14th, 2011

I have been proud to be one of the first people to recognise the problems with Invasive Non Native Species in the UK. I also believe that I was THE first person to recognise the commercial potential of Invasive Non Native Species – and THE first person to set up a company solely to deal with the problems that thee plants present.

As such I feel uniquely positioned to comment on the development and growth of what is basically a ‘new’ industry. We have been doing this for ten years.

Nothing else – just Japanese Knotweed.

There are many arguments about ‘nature’ and ‘nurture’ – the difference between how a child is raised and the way parents teach their offspring about right and wrong and what impact the environment surrounding the child will impact on its growth.

For a new business these factors are just as important.

The Japanese Knotweed treatment market was created to combat the lack of understanding in the construction/development field about how to deal with difficult plants. The specialists were brought in to advise how to avoid making their problems worse and how to avoid being fined by the various legislative bodies. The market for our services grew during a time of rapid development and a buoyant economy.

Unfortunately the industry has taken a step which I believe is akin to being adopted by a wicked stepfather…

As with any successful industry ‘other’ businesses will look at the market and think … ‘I can do that’…

Well – as I have always said…. ‘dealing with highly invasive plants is not like building a wall – it’s not about bricks and mortar – it’s about understanding our environment’.

We are on the brink of having a set of new rules introduced to govern the behaviour of Japanese Knotweed Contractors - the new rules have unfortunately been ‘adopted’ by some ‘dodgy parents’.

Those that are involved have seen fit to get in bed with a group that mainly deals with ‘damp proof services’. Now correct me if I wrong – but what the f**k do damp proof contractors know about Japanese Knotweed.

F**k all.

Japanese Knotweed Solutions Ltd will continue to offer the best services and the most viable solutions to your Japanese Knotweed problems.

We will not be offering advice on damp proofing.

Mike C

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Jeremy Vine show

Wednesday, November 16th, 2011

Yes you may have my autograph…

So …the other week I was approached by the Jeremy Vine Show to be interviewed by Vanessa Phelps for a piece on Japanese Knotweed. It all happened very quickly – phone call at 11 then on air LIVE at 1.30….aaarrrrghhh

Weird how many of my mates now listen to Radio 2 – as I was talking live on air my phone was bleeping away with incoming texts and my computer started to fill with incoming messages. It was funny reading … ‘you’re sounding good Mike’…whilst I was still talking!

(NB I am taking this as confirmation that I am Middle Aged – Radio 2 – bloody hell… I used to listen to John Peel during the days of punk…what happened?)

Joking aside – I do get annoyed by the scare monger tactics of the reporters. Nobody wants to hear the truth about Japanese Knotweed, they just want horror stories…

I hope I was the ‘voice of reason’, the feedback that we have received has been positive…

Mike C

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Where there’s blame – there’s a claim…

Wednesday, November 9th, 2011

Isn’t it funny how not everybody actually wants to get rid of their Japanese Knotweed?!

I have come across several examples recently where not only did our client not want their Knotweed treating – they seemed to want it to grow more vigorously…!

This appears to be a symptom of today’s society…people seem just to want a fast ‘buck’.

They aren’t interested in the growth of Japanese Knotweed or where it’s originated from – they just want to know – ‘who is to blame’ and ‘how much can I sue them for’.

Well it’s wrong, dammit.

I’m pretty sure that - as yet - nobody has planted Japanese Knotweed on purpose in a housing development. I’m also pretty sure that when problems appear it isn’t down to malpractice or bad construction – it’s down to ignorance.

House builders aren’t sat thinking that they will ‘get away’ with ignoring the Japanese Knotweed.

They have no bloody idea that Knotweed exists…

Now I’m not saying that this is good practice – but what I am saying is that if a builder holds up his hands and says – ‘sorry.. but we will sort the problem out’ – this should be acceptable…

…but no …in today’s litigious society this is not enough.

WE WANT COMPENSATION….is the cry…

For what exactly?

Let us sort the problem – your house ISN’T going to fall down.

Mike C

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Why Does Nobody Care….?

Wednesday, August 24th, 2011

What a pathetic, sad title for a blog… What I’m talking about are all the little parcels of land that nobody looks after.

Having visited Italy recently I noticed that every little bit of land is valued, or at least not completely neglected. Here in the UK you can drive along a well-maintained road then suddenly there is a small plot that is completely overgrown – (you can check this on your way home) – you will notice long grass with clumps of Ragwort, nettle, bramble, Himalayan balsam …and Japanese Knotweed…then…next to the unkempt land there will suddenly be a close cut lawn and high maintenance bedding and shrubbery.

Why is this??…surely land should be our greatest asset? Why do these little parcels escape our attention?

I can assure you that if tried to build on them or adopt them as part of your garden – someone would quickly claim ownership.

I guess it’s down to laziness or lack of funds to keep these areas tidy and managed…

Unfortunately this lack of care allows the invasive non-native plants an opportunity to thrive…which I guess is what keeps me busy…!

Mike C

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Arrivederci Japanese Knotweed

Wednesday, July 13th, 2011

I’m sure everyone has been dying to know the answer to the question – does Tuscany have any Japanese Knotweed?

So I decided to do some first-hand research…

Landing at Pisa I noticed a decidedly dodgy building which looked an obvious case of ‘leaning’ caused by Japanese Knotweed in the foundations……but no…nothing obvious.

Travelling through the countryside I stared at the fields and fields of sun flowers – no knotweed.

Driving past rows and rows of grape vines …surely there must be knotweed somewhere….nope…nothing…

None in the pool.

None in the Jacuzzi.

…and to be quite honest after the third bottle of Chianti I couldn’t have cared less.

So in Summary of Tuscany - great region, great people – NO KNOTWEED…

Ah well – back to Manchester Airport – spotted some within twenty metres of the runway!

Mike C

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Prostrate trouble?

Tuesday, June 28th, 2011

Just when you thought you knew all the different types of Knotweed a new one raises its head….or in this case lowers its head….let me introduce Prostrate Knotweed.

It’s fairly easy to identify with smaller leaves and a low growing prostrate form. Actually it’s pretty unlikely that you will see it as it’s still a rare occurrence.

The point of the blog really is to highlight that we must all keep our eyes open to unusual plants (and animals). People are getting in a panic about Japanese Knotweed – but – are they getting in a panic for the right reasons?

I wonder sometimes of I have done too good a job of telling people about invasive weeds?

Recent statements from Santander relating to mortgages seem to ignore the actual problems caused by Japanese Knotweed and ignore the specific situation ….BUT…. go into a knee jerk reaction of ….if there is anything that even looks like JK – NO MORTGAGE –

The point I’m getting at here is that maybe we shouldn’t panic when we see a name of a plant or hear that there is a new form of a plant that has been identified. When we should be focussing on – is whether the plant is really going to be a problem ….

So let’s not think about scare tactics or new named plants to worry about – let’s look more at the situation the plant is in – let’s be specific.

Then let’s be calm and sort out the problems plants from the not so problem ones…

Mike C

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Let’s make a Pudding from Japanese Knotweed – NO - hang on a minute ….Lets NOT

Wednesday, June 15th, 2011

The next person that tells me ‘oh, you can make a crumble out of Japanese Knotweed can’t you?’ – I will punch in the face.

Thanks to ‘Countryfile’ …EVERY anally retentive idiot now thinks it’s OK to go out into the countryside pulling up Japanese Knotweed and making Jam or crumble or chutney out of the bloody stuff….

Let’s be clear – THIS IS NOT A GOOD IDEA!

It’s a highly invasive plant that is covered under more legislation than you can shake a stick at – yet some TV reporter thinks it’s a great idea to suggest that untrained idiots go pulling it up to eat is a sensible idea….

Please understand Japanese Knotweed will re-grow from the tiniest of fragments.

The often quoted statement is that ‘a piece as small as a fingernail will re-grow’…..so suggesting to every budding Jamie, Gordon and Delia that cooking with it will help get rid of the plant is just plain bonkers.

Don’t try and digest it, don’t pull it out for your chutney…leave it alone…call an expert…call Japanese Knotweed Solutions.

We PROMISE we won’t eat it ….

Mike C

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Do it Yourself….?

Wednesday, June 8th, 2011

I am often asked whether treating Japanese Knotweed yourself is an option worth considering…?

Well… in these difficult financial times obviously anything that can save you money is worth considering….however if you do decide to tackle the problem yourself… please be prepared for a long battle and possibly an inconclusive victory…

I must be honest after starting to write this blog I have been mulling over in my own head – ‘would I do my own garden if it were JK infested…?’ – I concluded that I wouldn’t…

If you have no intention of moving in the next ten years then perhaps self-help would be an option – but in the current climate I would suggest that most mortgage lenders wouldn’t be happy lending on a property with JK without a professional contractor appointed – who holds a minimum ten year insurance backed warranty.

Getting a mortgage nowadays is difficult enough without trying to sell an amateur eradication strategy to a mortgage provider – it just won’t work.

You need a professional company with a tried and tested methodology who can show previous examples of successfully treated projects. You need to know that they are trading profitably and have a minimum 5 year trading history - with fully paid up insurance bonds and policies…

In short you need Japanese Knotweed Solutions… NOT….. Do It Yourself Solutions

Mike C

Posted in Japanese Knotweed Info, Warranty | 3 Comments »