Japanese knotweed grows tremendously in the late spring and early summer. The heat is literally on to spot and remove the invasive weed, before it knocks too much value out of your property!
Identification of Japanese knotweed - it's essential!
It’s essential you identify Japanese knotweed on your land as soon as possible, since the longer you leave the plant to spread, the more it will cost you. And cost you it will! Anything from larger infestation removal and legal fees to mortgage and property selling problems.
Japanese knotweed in the late spring
In the late spring, you should first look for Japanese knotweed on the ground. Here, it will emerge with asparagus-like spears which are pink and then purple in colour.
Asparagus-like appearance in late spring / summer
Unfurling leaves of Japanese knotweed in late spring / early summer
As the weather progresses, so too does Japanese knotweed. Come mid to late spring, Japanese knotweed undergoes three main changes.
- First, the leaves on the bud (the spears) will unfurl.
- Second, its leaves will turn bright green.
- And third, the shoots will grow to a metre in only a few weeks.
Yes, Japanese knotweed grows fast in the late spring, but its growth rate and distinctive shape make it easy to identify at commercial development sites and residential properties.
Rapid growth as the sun warms the land
Green leaves of Japanese knotweed in summer
Japanese knotweed in the early summer
In the early summer, Japanese knotweed starts to look a lot like bamboo. And similarly, knotweed stems are green and have “rings” around them, but unlike bamboo, Japanese knotweed canes are speckled purple, thinner and can often be snapped by hand.
With the arrival of summer, Japanese knotweed will also grow two or three metres tall, produce a full canopy of bright-green leaves and vines will be zig-zag-like in appearance. However, though Japanese knotweed does produce pretty white flowers, these don’t usually arrive until much later in the year.
Detail of speckled canes (stems)
Close-up of Japanese knotweed leaf in summer
Japanese knotweed management in the summer
Like all living things, Japanese knotweed looks like a different plant depending on its age, location and whether or not it’s been treated.
So, we encourage you to upload your Japanese knotweed photos to our website for official identification.
Be knotweed free this summer, call us to discuss your treatment options and arrange a management solution today - tel: 0330 6781077.
