According to industry experts, invasive breeds of bamboo can be just as bad, if not worse than Japanese knotweed, in terms of its ability to spread underground.

In fact, invasive species of bamboo have rhizomes that can reach out up to 30 feet beneath the surface, crossing property boundaries and causing structural issues in the process.

Me Ol’ Bamboo

Bamboo has long been a well-liked plant in the UK, presenting an aesthetically pleasing option that doubles up as a barrier, with its privacy boosting properties commonly used for screening purposes.

However, new information about the plant’s intrusive qualities – particularly if left to its own devices and uncontrolled – highlights the negative impact this once beloved addition can have on your garden and your property as a whole.

Bamboo species typically fall under two different varieties, namely “clumping” and “running”. The latter in particular is the one to watch out for as this is the species that features long, lateral rhizomes that can stretch out afar underground.

Bamboozling Classification

While bamboo isn’t yet categorised under the “invasive species” category, the damage it can cause to a property can be costly. Worse still, it’s natural ability to spread can also cause lead it to encroach upon adjoining properties, leading to disputes between neighbours as well.

Sadly, due to bamboo’s current official status as a supposedly non-invasive plant, there are no existing restrictions relating to bamboo. As a result, sellers are under no obligation to tell potential buyers if the plant has posed a problem in the past or is likely to pose a problem in the future.

Love Thy Neighbour

Mark Montaldo, Director of UK civil litigation firm CEL Solicitors, had this to say:

“Bamboo is a growing problem as, unlike Japanese knotweed, it’s not officially classed as an invasive species and there are currently no restrictions on planting it. Consequently, there has been an increase in the number of neighbourly disputes following the encroachment of bamboo across garden borders.

“I have acted for a number of clients who have taken legal action against their neighbour for nuisance caused as a result of a bamboo infestation where the offending party has had to pay significant removal costs and legal bills.

“Due to the increase in nuisance claims it is something that the mortgage companies are closely looking at and I wouldn’t be surprised to see them imposing lending restrictions on properties that suffer with bamboo infestations in the future.”

Weed Removal Services

As you can see, bamboo is no run-of-the-mill garden plant and can pose serious issues if left to its own devices. As such, tackling this issue early doors can be the difference between a quiet life and going to war with your neighbours down the line.

If you suspect you may be running into issues with bamboo on your property, Taylor Weed Control can help. We have over 15 years’ experience within the weed control game and are more than capable of chopping your bamboo woes down to size in a jiffy.

Bottom line: don’t wait to get your bamboo issues under control. Don’t delay, call Taylor Weed today and save yourself a shed load of hassle along the way.

For more information on the variety of weed removal services available at Taylor Weed Control, why not drop us a line today? Call now on 029 2039 7554 or get in touch online by clicking the button below.

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A housing estate in Sturrocks in Basildon could see the value of its properties take a notable hit following the increasing growth of Japanese knotweed in the area.

Effects of Japanese Knotweed on House Price

Japanese knotweed has a dark and storied history in the property industry and is commonly vilified in the media as a fiendish and fearful infestation – and rightfully so.

The mere presence of the invasive plant can have a decidedly negative influence on house prices and, if left untreated, the knotty vine even has the potential to inhibit the structural integrity of the property.

As such, quick action is necessary and it's recommended that treatment begins as soon as a Japanese knotweed infestation is discovered. Sadly, such recommendation was not followed by Basildon Council…

Deaf Ears

Despite reporting the presence of Japanese knotweed to the local council for six months, residents of Basildon’s Vange estate have had to stand idly by and watch the growing problem escalate as their pleas have fallen on deaf ears.

 “It’s disgusting that the council isn’t dealing with this”, said local resident Caroline Baxter. “We all pay our rates and shouldn’t have to deal with this going on here.”

Another inhabitant of the area, Barry Jones, also took aim at the council with his remarks:

“I think the council needs to get its act together and fix this issue. If they had done something about it then, it would have been gone by now.

“I will be so angry if the plant damages my garden and or home. If it’s left too long the whole estate will be covered in it.”

Delayed Reactions

Mr Jones also went on to highlight the safety hazards that knotweed brings to the area, noting that “people have suffered burns and blisters from the plant in the past”.

Commenting on the situation, a spokesperson for the local council had this response:

“We recently identified a case of Japanese Knotweed in Sturrocks and it was added to our contractors spraying list and has had its first spray.”

However, with a six-month head-start, have the council left it too late to nip this issue in the bud? One thing is for sure, they have definitely not made their job any easier.

Japanese Knotweed Treatment

As we touched on earlier, the sooner you address the problem, the quicker you will overcome it. As such, early diagnosis and early treatment is a vital part of the process and can be the difference between widespread problems and wholesale relief.

You notice a Japanese knotweed issue on your property, a neighbouring property or in the locale, it’s well worth getting it checked out. As seen in this instance, the council have a habit of dragging their feet and the issue is only likely to get a whole lot worse.

At Taylor Weed Control, we are fully equipped to tackle your knotweed nuisance once and for all and can quickly and efficiently banish your Eastern enemy from whence it came. All it takes is a phone call!

For more information on Japanese knotweed treatment from Taylor Weed Control, why not drop us a line? Call now on 029 2039 7554 to speak with one of our experts or get in touch online to request a FREE knotweed survey today.

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At Taylor Weed Control, we’ve seen it all when it comes to Japanese knotweed, from minor infestations to all-out garden takeovers.

However, if you think you’ve had it bad when it comes to Japanese knotweed on your property, trust us when we say it could be a lot worse!

For the organisers of the 2012 Olympics, a widespread Japanese knotweed infestation on the chosen site of the London Games threatened the viability of the event altogether.

How so? Join us as we revisit the time when Japanese knotweed won gold and threatened the UK’s biggest sporting event of the century.

An Olympic-Sized Problem

The crown jewel of the London 2012 Olympic Games was the aptly-named, Olympic Park – home to the awesome Olympic Stadium.

Purpose-built for the 2012 Olympics, the stunning venue provided the stage for the opening and closing ceremonies, as well as multiple record-breaking performances and memorable moments throughout the event.

However, prior to the Olympics, the site itself was ravaged by Japanese knotweed. In fact, JKW covered a colossal four hectares (approximately 10 acres) of land on site and presented huge structural worries long-term.

As a result of the knotweed presence, a detailed and thorough removal plan was implemented to treat the issue, taking four years to complete and costing around £70 million of the £9.3 billion total remediation cost.

A Flowering Legacy

The investment in comprehensive removal of the knotweed problem has undoubtedly paid off and the venue has since become home to Premier League football club, West Ham United.

Additionally, the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park has also gone on to host a range of other global sporting events, such as numerous 2015 Rugby World Cup games, the 2017 World Athletics Championships and Major League Baseball fixtures in 2019.

Meanwhile, the venue itself has also hosted huge performing artists - including the likes of Guns N’ Roses, AC/DC and The Rolling Stones - none of which would have been possible, had Japanese knotweed remained at large.

Knotweed Removal Specialists

While your back garden is unlikely to play host to a global sporting event or a legendary music icon, ridding your land of Japanese knotweed can help protect your property and its future value.

At Taylor Weed Control, we specialise in knotweed removal and have built a reputation as one of the leading Japanese knotweed removal specialists in Wales and the West of England.

Our crack team of trained experts are fully equipped with the skills to disqualify your Japanese knotweed and leave it for dust, leaving you with a knotweed free garden that’s fit and healthy.

For more information on the professional weed killer services at Taylor Weed Control, why not get in touch today? Call now on 029 2039 7554 or click the button below to get in touch online and request a FREE survey.

Request a FREE Survey