The Do's and Don't's of Japanese Knotweed

Do	Consult a Japanese knotweed professional and implement a knotweed treatment programme as soon as possible.
Do	Prevent any disturbance of the plant, particularly during the growing season, and prevent disturbance of the ground within at least 2m of the plant at any time of the year.
Do	Be aware of the legal responsibilities of knotweed disposal and, if such disposal is absolutely necessary, ensure all off-site disposal takes place by prior agreement at a licensed landfill site.

Don't	Mow or strim knotweed, as this will cause the knotweed to spread.
Don't	Chop, cut or break green knotweed stems, as this could lead to knotweed spread unless disposed of properly and can impede a treatment programme. Pulling knotweed will initially encourage further growth, and is likely to pull up the highly regenerative crowns and rhizomes and create both a disposal issue and the potential for knotweed spread.
Don't	Use standard green waste / local amenity tip to dispose of any viable knotweed material or fly-tip, as this will encourage knotweed spread and put you in breach of the law.
Don't	Break the law – knotweed material and soil containing knotweed material is classed as ‘controlled waste’ and must be disposed of accordingly.
Don't	Hand dig out knotweed, as the rhizomes are likely to be extensive and deep and knotweed will regenerate from any rhizome remaining in the ground. Also, removal of knotweed material from the ground will create a disposal issue.
Don't	Conduct any home treatment efforts unless you know exactly what you are doing, as this could impede a professional treatment programme, may push the knotweed into temporary dormancy and could invalidate the guarantee on a professional programme..
Don't	Cover the knotweed area, as any suppression will only be temporary and will impede a treatment programme.
Don't	Chip knotweed material, as mechanical chippers do not kill the plant and could result in new growth wherever the chipped material is spread.
Don't	Add Japanese knotweed to compost, as this can lead to knotweed growing in your compost area.
Don't	Allow knotweed to spread into adjacent properties, as this could result in legal action by your neighbour(s).

Japanese knotweed – do's and don'ts