Invasive plants such as Japanese knotweed, giant hogweed and fast-growing Himalayan balsam, could spread rapidly to new locations in the UK this spring, thanks to 2019's wet autumn.
Those who live close to watercourses in Yorkshire, the East and West Midlands and parts of South East and South West England, are particularly at risk of the dangerous plants invading their gardens because of the recent flooding, Environet UK warns.
Back in October 2019, much of the UK saw above-average rainfall, with some areas even exceeding their usual monthly rain total — and this meant invasive plants were able to spread much more easily.
Flooding can result in pieces of rhizome (also known as creeping rootstalk) to break away from the parent plant and get carried away by the water to new locations. In severe cases, this could mean that Japanese knotweed seeds could have been washed into your garden and may emerge this spring.
It's not just Japanese knotweed, either: Himalayan balsam and giant hogweed also poses great risk at spreading into gardens because of their seeds dispersing in floodwater.
Difficult to remove and dangerous if spread, experts advise households who suffered from flooding to keep an eye open for the invasive plants this spring. "Homeowners whose homes and gardens have been flooded this autumn and winter should be extra vigilant for signs of invasive plants which may have hitched a ride to new locations on or near their property," says Nic Seal, Founder and Managing Director of Environet.
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"If identified and dealt with quickly, removing them will be more straightforward, but new infestations can become a major problem if left unchecked and allowed to become established. People with properties that back on to watercourses are particularly at risk and should move quickly to assess any new green shoots as they emerge this spring."
To find out if your local area has been affected by Japanese knotweed, see the interactive map here.
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Lisa Joyner is the Deputy Daily Editor at House Beautiful UK and Country Living UK, where she's busy writing about home and interiors, gardening, dog breeds, pets, health and wellbeing, countryside news, small space inspiration, and the hottest properties on the market. Previously, she has written for Conde Nast Traveller, House & Garden and Marie Claire magazine. Lisa studied at University For The Creative Arts, where she completed a BA in Fashion Journalism.
