Gardeners urged to check outside for invasive plant most visible in August

The plant is incredibly invasive and destructive06:00, 26 Aug 2026Invasive plants can have serious consequences for a property, reducing its value and making it difficult for prospective buyers to secure a mortgage. Certain species, such as bamboo and Leyland cypress, grow remarkably quickly, but Japanese knotweed becomes most conspicuous in late summer.‌This rapidly spreading plant can swiftly take over sections of a garden and is notorious for propagating from even the tiniest fragments of its underground rhizomes. Japanese knotweed is at its most visible in August, when its tall, bamboo-like stems and creamy white flowers make established growth far easier to identify.‌The plant's impact extends well beyond the garden itself, outcompeting native species and forcing its way through crack