Japanese knotweed seems to be springing up everywhere. Huge concentration in some gardens opposite the station at bottom of Devonshire road and in the south circular. Should it be reported to the council or is it just a friendly chat with the neighbours and hope they sort it before it spreads?

I'd recommend a friendly chat as soon as possible. Most important thing is that they don't just chop it down - it needs to be chemically treated heavily otherwise it will just keep coming back stronger and stronger.

I have just spotted some of this stuff in my neighbour's front garden however it is Housing Association owned and from previous dealings with them I doubt they will do much about it. Wondering if I should take it upon myself to glyphosate it before it spreads to my garden....

The Housing Association should deal with it - they are legally required to stop it spreading...see this link https://www.gov.uk/japanese-knotweed-gia...ive-plants
I'd contact them and tell them what property the knotweed is located at if i were you, and do it soon. May is a good time to treat the stuff as it will be coming into leaf, which is the best time to zap it.

I'm dealing with exactly the same situation. I had to take matters into my own hands last year after they didn't take any action, and will do the same again this year (glyphosate and syringe on its way!). Good luck!

Jane, Edpaff, I have spotted the same too, so am considering contacting the housing association about it too. I wonder if there is a new company who specialises in dealing with this doing some planting! lol
There does seem to me a LOT of it

I understand that if left to its own devices, it can come up inside the house!

Jane / Edpaff / Sanzy - where abouts have you spotted it and do you know which housing association owns the property? If you all need to contact the same one might be worth a joined up effort to put some pressure on them?

When you start looking for knotweed, its amazing how quickly you start spotting it everywhere!

What exactly does it look like - any chance of a pic from one of these infestations mentioned? I've googled it but there are a number of different images returned with varying results. I thought I spotted some the other day but actually it might have just been a form of ivy?!

mcbain23, its actually quite a pretty looking bush, but has terrible effects, here is a link to some pics and info.

http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=218

If you want a real-life example, there's a property on Devonshire Road (near junction with South Circ) which has lots in the front garden each year.

Google Streetview

Corner of Devonshire Road.

This post was last modified: 01-05-2014 01:20 PM by Sherwood.

Cripes - this stuff? (see attached pic)

Reported the occurrences I have spotted today, and been advised they are looking into them urgently.

Not the return of the giant hogweed? I would contact Genesis at once for advice on how to proceed........

The housing association house next door to me is Hyde. I have told the person who lives there about it, but don't know if they realise how serious knotweed is, I think they just thought I was having a go about the garden being weedy.
I will report it to Hyde as well.
I don't want it in my garden!!

Well some good news, it looks like the Knotweed of church rise is being treated, all the leaves are dying off fast, so assume as promised by the housing association, they have sprayed.

Spotted this on the back path alongside forest hill station - my son insisted he featured - looks like the dreaded knotweed to me, can anyone confirm please?

   

Leaves look right, hard to tell from the picture, the stalks / branches though. Should be a red colour to them, with a bamboo style break along the stalks.

Yes that's it.