If your main concern is Japanese knotweed – think again!

For developers, contractors, and groundworkers, horsetail is increasingly being treated as a ground risk – not just a weed. Because Horsetail looks so different throughout the year it can be difficult to identify, whereas a professional surveyor will identify Horsetail all year round.

Construction sites can encounter the following risks if Horsetail is found onsite and even longer-term issues if it’s ignored and development goes ahead without dealing with the Horsetail problem.

1. Programme delays. If Horsetail is identified during works, it means:

• Additional assessment may be required
• Treatment strategies need to be implemented
• Earthworks may be impacted or grind to a halt

Late discovery = delay and cost

2. Regrowth through hard surfaces. If not dealt with properly, Horsetail can:

• Penetrate weak points in tarmac and paving
• Regrow through membranes
• Reappear after construction

Long-term defect = liability risks

3. Groundworks & soil management. Because of its deep root system:

• Excavation must be carefully controlled
• Soil movement can spread the plant
• Reuse of material may be restricted

You can’t just “scrape and build”

4. Commercial & Reputational Risk. Failure to manage Horsetail properly can lead to:

• Ongoing maintenance issues
• Client dissatisfaction
• Potential claims

Increasingly, for construction and development it’s being treated like a contamination issue. 

Horsetail won’t go away without professional help. The biggest misconception is: “If I keep treating it, it will eventually die off” but in reality:

• Most DIY methods don’t reach the root system
• Herbicides require correct timing and application
• Excavation without controls can spread it further

What works is effective horsetail management, which typically includes either targeted herbicide programmes or controlled excavation, often both combined with long-term monitoring and management. The key is to identify it early and take control quickly.

We work with commercial developers needing fast, compliant solutions to a problem they’re not equipped or qualified to deal with. If the infestation is new, has already been mismanaged or simply underestimated early on, that’s where we step in.

So, the question is – do you know what’s in the ground you’re working on? Do you know if there’s asbestos contamination? If not book a survey with us and we’ll report back with our findings, which may include:

• Japanese knotweed
• Himalayan balsam
• Giant hogweed
• Hemlock water dropwort
• Asbestos and other contaminants
• And, of course, Horsetail

Call us on 0333 2414 413 or visit our websites for more information:
Japaneseknotweed.co.uk
environmentcontrols.co.uk