The Criticality of Japanese Knotweed Identification – Its How’s and Why’s

The process of eliminating Japanese knotweeds from your surrounding starts with identifying them correctly. These notorious weeds have already gripped the base of many properties, thus weakening them and spoiling gardens. The fact that many other plants carry a similar appearance makes it even more essential to go for proper Japanese knotweed identification .

Here’s how to go with its common identification –

Well, one thing that makes its identification difficult is that these weeds disguise themselves perfectly throughout the year. You should know all of its different shapes, sizes and colours for different seasons. Otherwise, there’s a good probability you will miss out on one growing in your backyard.

Let’s make sure you don’t miss out on one infesting your property with these pointers.

• The first thing to know is that they bear an entirely different resemblance for different times of a year.
  
• Look out for leaves shaped in the form of spades, with tall, zig-zag stems.
  
• The period between April and October is the most suitable time for them to grow.
• Sometimes, with mild climatic conditions, they are also found to grow between March and November.
  

Hence, take care of these common pointers before moving on to Japanese Knotweed identification according to different seasons.

The changes in appearance according to seasons:

Appearance during spring –

Shoots of Japanese knotweed carry a purple or reddish hue during spring. They are also in the shape of asparagus, small, light green and slender. With the shoots growing, the knotweed starts producing leaves with spade shape and red veins. As the plant grows quite quickly, by the time its summer, they take on a full-grown shape and size.

Appearance during summer –

With summer arriving, the weeds bear tall stems that can reach up to three metres high. With a large number of leaves growing on these stems in an uneven pattern, it becomes easier to identify them in summer. Towards the season’s end, the stems start bearing creamy coloured flowers in bunches.

Appearance during autumn –

Being perennial, the growth of these plants slows down around autumn. Hence, you can go for Japanese knotweed identification during this season by looking at its yellow, wilted leaves. Its shoots also take up the brownish hue.

Appearance during winter –

Winter is the stage of dormancy for the weeds, whereby they prepare themselves for the coming spring. Therefore, they shed all their leaves, and the shoots dry up completely.

With these seasonal changes, now it will be easier to identify Japanese knotweeds throughout the year.

Here’s why Japanese knotweed identification becomes critical:

I. They grow with a network of rhizomes that can reproduce at any point.
II. The infestation of their roots can spread beneath the concrete structures as well.
III. If left for long, they can potentially damage buildings and structures.
IV. The legislature mandates declaration and removal of these plants from houses and other premises.
V. It is also necessary to identify them while putting a property on mortgage and for carrying out other deals.

So, make sure you correctly identify Japanese knotweed growing in and around your premises. Be it any season, take care that you approach specialists at invasive weed removal for eradicating it safely and permanently.