How to identify Japanese Knotweed when it starts to grow
Japanese Knotweed is a long-lived perennial invasive species that becomes dormant over winter and reappears with fresh growth the following year. Provided that Japanese Knotweed is not disturbed or stressed, it will grow in a very predictable way.
Very early identification features of Japanese Knotweed include:
- Small red ‘arrow’ shaped shoots
- Asparagus like shoots which are red or purple in colour
- Evidence of previous season growth or ‘dead canes’ within the vicinity (although not always)
When does Japanese Knotweed start to grow?
In Scotland, Japanese Knotweed will usually start to appear as new growth throughout March and April. Parts of Scotland which are typically cooler, such as the highlands (Inverness, Caithness, the Hebridean Islands etc) may see growth appear slightly later than lower areas around the central belt (Ayrshire, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Fife etc). However, March is the month to be on the lookout for fresh Japanese Knotweed shoots.
What looks like Japanese Knotweed?
During winter months, the identification of Japanese Knotweed can be more challenging and it is common for plants to be mistaken for this invasive troublemaker. We wrote a recent article about how to identify Japanese Knotweed during winter – check it out if you would like to read more about winter identification. As plants start to grow, species such as Himalayan Honeysuckle, which has a similar hollow construction to Japanese Knotweed, and other plants such as Dogwood or Lilac are often mis-identified by property owners. If you are unsure, always seek guidance from an expert.
If you have concerns about new growth that has appeared on your property, it may not be Japanese Knotweed. JBB Knotweed Solutions offer a free identification survey – There are a number of look-a-like plants that may be causing needless stress and anxiety.
How do you get rid of Japanese Knotweed?
The most important advice for anyone who suspects that they might have Japanese Knotweed on their property is – do not disturb it. Whilst it may be tempting to try and remove Japanese Knotweed yourself. Don’t… Ever!
Every year we deal with lots of cases where clients have attempted to removed Japanese Knotweed themselves. The consequences are often increased spread over their property, chemically stressed plants which become very difficult to treat, and increased costs of remediation.
If you believe you have Japanese Knotweed on your property, arrange for one of our invasive species specialists to carry out a survey. You will receive expert advice and a detailed report of how best to manage the problem.