26 June 2020

Using AI to detect Japanese Knotweed

A black
By Build Zone
A dense patch of green Japanese knotweed plants growing next to an open grassy area with trees in the background.

Japanese knotweed can have a negative impact on the value of your property, not to mention causing conflict between neighbours and causing stress in your day-to-day life.

Since it launched in 2019, Environet’s Japanese knotweed heat map ‘Exposed’ has had 52,000 knotweed sightings added, 93,000 visits and over 62,000 postcode searches undertaken.

Operating across the UK, Environet is a leading Japanese knotweed specialist who can help with the removal of this damaging, invasive weed. Their skilled team can assist you with the eradication and treatment of Japanese knotweed and other non-native invasive species on commercial and residential properties.

Discovering a knotweed infestation can also lead to some very expensive costs, which many might wish to alleviate by relying on their home insurance. Unfortunately, making a claim on your home insurance after discovering Japanese knotweed is not always straightforward, or even possible, in some cases.

What does Japanese knotweed do to a house?

The reason that Japanese knotweed is so problematic is that it can cause structural damage to properties. It is able to push through areas like cavity walls, drains, and anywhere there is a weakness such as a crack or a fissure.

Once it finds its way into infrastructure, Japanese knotweed can cause more damage as it grows, widening gaps and causing mayhem along the way. If you find Japanese knotweed in your garden, it’s imperative that you do something about it as soon as possible.

The problem with knotweed is that its roots can grow as deep as 3m and spread out across 7m. Infestations are quick to take hold and if the plant gets near to your house you can quickly find many problems with structural damage.

The best way to get rid of Japanese knotweed on your property is to use a mix of digging and chemical control to ensure that the plant does not re-establish itself.

Find out more.https://environetuk.com/exposed-japanese-knotweed-heat-map

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