COUNTRY LIFE
coffee
break
Sam Biles in the country
Sam's
countryside
tip!
reading...
A knott y problem
W
Sam Biles is
Managing
Director of
Country and
Coastal Estate
Agents: www.
creasey-bilesking.co.uk
atch Out For Japanese Knot Weed! This
alien species can destroy buildings,
break up concrete and make your
property both un-mortgageable and unsaleable,
In early spring red/purple shoots form canes/
stems which are hollow, green and have purple
speckles - a bit like those on rhubarb stalks.
The stem 'zig-zags' with each leaf junction. The
late summer flowers are white inflorescent.
Underground rhizomes spread the weed - even
tiny pieces can produce new plants. It is a
criminal offence to spread Japanese Knotweed;
it can be killed by weedkiller; take advice from
professionals to identify and eradicate it.
King Canute's Island dilemma
Sam Biles takes a seasonal look at the
effects of global warming and winter
7F