Harmful weeds and invasive, non-native plants
There are a number of plants that should be prevented from spreading.
You have a responsibility to:
• prevent invasive, non-native plants on your land spreading into the wild and causing a nuisance
• prevent harmful weeds on your land spreading onto a neighbour's property
It is important that you can identify them so you can control them in the most appropriate way.
Preventing the spread of invasive, non-native plants
There are a number of invasive, non-native plants that you must not plant or allow to grow in the wild. You should also not move contaminated soil or plant cuttings.
The most commonly found invasive, non-native plants include:
- Japanese Knotweed
- Giant Hogweed
- Himalayan Balsam
- Rhododendron Ponticum
- New Zealand Pigmyweed (this is banned from sale)
You are not legally obliged to remove these plants or to control them. However, if you allow Japanese knotweed to grow onto other people's property you could be prosecuted for causing a private nuisance.
Disposing of invasive, non-native plants
Spraying with herbicide is an effective treatment to stop invasive plants from spreading. You will have to re-spray. It usually takes:
- 3 years to treat Japanese knotweed until dormant
- 15 years for giant hogweed seeds to stop germinating
Correct disposal of plant material is vital to avoid the risk of spreading the problem further. You will need to check with the Environment Agency for advice on disposal because there are regulations which cover the composting, burning and burial of plant materials on-site and the transfer and disposal of material including ash to licensed or permitted landfill sites. If you fail to ensure safe, legal disposal or obtain an appropriate licence or exemption if required, you could risk being prosecuted.
You must not put Japanese knotweed in your rubbish bin, or any green waste recycling schemes of any description, or your home compost bin.
Preventing the spread of harmful weeds
A number of weeds pose a danger to animals, or can cause problems for agriculture if they are allowed to spread unchecked. The following weeds are controlled by law:
- Common Ragwort
- Spear Thistle
- Creeping or Field Thistle
- Broad-leaved Dock
- Curled Dock
It's not an offence to have these weeds growing on your land, but you must:
- Prevent them from spreading to agricultural land, particularly grazing areas or land used for forage, like silage and hay
- Choose an appropriate method of controlling them
- Not plant them in the wild
If you allow these weeds to spread onto someone else's property, Natural England could serve you with an enforcement notice. You can also be prosecuted if you allow animals to suffer by eating these weeds.
There is more information on stopping the spread of harmful weeds and what to do if you think they are spreading onto your land on the GOV.UK.
Contacts
Natural England
PO Box 2423
Reading
RG1 6WY
Email: cs.reading@naturalengland.org.uk
Telephone: 0300 060 1112
Environment Agency
National Customer Contact Centre
PO Box 544
Rotherham
S60 1BY
Email:enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk
Telephone: 0370 850 6506
Help with identifying invasive, non-native plants and harmful weeds
Identity invasive, non-native plants
Find out more about how to identify Japanese Knotweed
Find out more about how to identify Giant Hogweed
Find out more about how to identify Himalayan Balsam
Find out more about how to identify Rhododendron Ponticum
Identify harmful weeds
Find out more about how to identify and control Common Ragwort
Find out more about how to identify and control Spear Thistle
Find out more about how to identify and control Creeping or Field Thistle
Find out more about how to identify and control Broad-leaved Dock
Find out more about how to identify and control Curled Dock