A GARDENING guru has issued a warning over nine invasive plants that spread as quickly as Japanese Knotweed – and revealed how to get rid of them.
Graham Rice, of Gardeningetc, broke down a list of non-native, invasive plant species to look our for in your garden this summer.
Invasive plants can spread extremely quickly and tend to crowd out native alternatives, so it's important to know how to control them.
If found around your home, they can even knock thousands off property values.
Many of the pesky plants are forms of weed and can sometimes be removed by hand-pulling or digging, but some require more aggressive prevention.
TREE OF HEAVEN
Also sometimes known as the Tree of Hell, it is usually native to central China and Taiwan.
READ MORE UK NEWS
UK theme park to stage major incident drill of 6,500 exposed to chem disaster
Urgent warning over rising number of dog attacks – here’s tips to keep pets safe
It can grow up to 49ft within 25 years and can reach heights of up to 89ft.
Despite being known as a tree, it is also designated as a noxious weed as it secretes toxins that kill off other plant life around it.
While hand-pulling is an option in the sapling stage, it can be difficult to deal with as it has suckers that allow the tree to effectively clone itself.
Meanwhile, the female flowers of the Tree of Heaven produce large quantities of seeds, allowing it to sprout across a wide area in a relatively short time.
Most read in The Sun
Holly fights tears saying she feels 'let down' by Phil 'not telling the truth'
BGT fans demand show is cancelled after shock winner in 'joke of a final'
Britain's Got Talent reveals Viggo Venn as the winner in dramatic final
I won't watch Holly's return to This Morning, says Phillip Schofield
As well as the damage it causes itself, the tree has been known to be a popular home for spotted lanternflies, which are also invasive and destroy crops.
If you miss your chance to hand-pull the tree, Graham recommends cutting it back severely and applying weedkiller.
WATER FERN
A real issue for those with garden ponds, water fern (aka fairy fern) is spread by spores carried on the water or wind.
This makes it very potent and easily spread, especially on breezy days.
The fern develops into a mat of overlapping leaves across the water's surface, which can extend up to 12in deep.
It is usually found in slow-moving water, like canals and ponds.
While it can look quite pleasant and has even been sold as a pond plant, it tends to crowd out other aquatic plants and can stifle the populations of small fish and other water-dwelling creatures.
Fortunately, it is quite easily removed by dragging a net or floating rake across the water, though gardeners should be aware that spores can be released when it breaks up, resulting in regrowth.
HOLLYBERRY COTONEASTER
It has been a fall from grace for this shrub as it was once a desirable garden plant.
Green-fingered Brits loved it for its dark green leaves and white flowers, which give way to red berries in the autumn.
However, the berries are the root of the problem.
They attract birds with their bright colour, resulting in the seeds being spread into the wild, where they are an invasive species.
The plant can be removed by cutting it back before treating the exposed wood with weedkiller as many times as is necessary.
NEW ZEALAND PYGMYWEED
As the name suggests, these small, aquatic weeds are native Down Under but came to Britain in the 1950s.
It forms dense, tangled carpets of shoots and leaves in damp soil, which can sometimes be completely submerged in water.
One thing that makes it harder to avoid is the fact that it grows all year round and doesn't die off in winter.
It spreads by pieces of stem breaking off and falling into the soil.
The best way to get ride of the weed is to use a net or rake to collect it from the banks of ponds, though Graham notes that this is rarely 100% effective.
GIANT HOGWEED
Infamous in recent years for its ability to cause severe rashes and blisters, giant hogweed was introduced to the UK as an ornamental plant in the 19th Century.
Its sap makes skin more sensitive to UV lights, causing nasty burn-like injuries.
In summer, the weed's white flowers produce a large number of seeds which are released when it dies.
To combat it, cut it down by the stems while it's flowering, making sure to wear sturdy gloves and other protective clothing.
SPANISH BLUEBELL
Essentially a larger version of the woodland plant native to Britain, it is more vigorous in its growth and so often starves its smaller relative of light and space.
The Wildlife Trusts add: "It can hybridize with our native, too, producing fertile plants that show a whole range of mixed features from both species.
"Over time, this hybridisation changes the genetic makeup of our native species, diluting its characteristics, weakening it and potentially evolving it into something else."
To prevent this, gardeners should dig up the bulbs while they flower, being careful to make sure every bulb is removed.
HIMALAYAN BALSAM
Known as a policeman's helmet because of the distinctive shape of its flowers, this plant was introduced to Britain in 1839, the same year as giant hogweed and Japanese knotweed.
It is characterised by the aggressive expulsion of seeds that helps it spread at a pace.
Since 2017, it has been included on the European Union's list of Invasive Alien Species of Union Concern, banning it from being imported, cultivated or intentionally released within the EU.
It can be hand-pulled or mown before it flowers, while it also dies each winter.
Weedkillers can also help fight back growth.
VIRGINIA CREEPER
Native to parts of Canada and the USA, this vine is actually a member of the grape family.
It is a climbing plant and can reach over 65ft high, snaking up everything from garden walls to tree bark.
Its tiny blue berries are poisonous to humans and the sap can cause skin irritation.
The best way to remove it is to cut it down to just above the roots then dig up the stump or treat it with stump killer.
RHODODENDRON
Perhaps the most commonly-known plant on the list, it is nonetheless an irritating species to control.
It grows largely in sandy or peaty soil, usually in woodland and is estimated to cover around 3% of Britain's total wooded area.
Read More on The Sun
Holly Willoughby pictured arriving at ITV for first This Morning since Phil exit
BGT fans shocked as live audience ‘boo’ judge within seconds of final starting
By growing high and close together, rhododendrons often smother the growth of wild flowers and other smaller plants.
Weed killer is again a good option to fight them, as is cutting back the top growth and digging out the roots.
Source: Read Full Article