Japanese knotweed specialists in Glasgow

Guidance from Glasgow City Council

• The council maintains only land that it owns or manages, and will not treat knotweed in private gardens.
• Knotweed on council-owned or maintained land near your home can be reported to the council. For land owned by a housing association or private landlord, contact the landlord.
• The council advises against cutting, burning or digging out knotweed, and says an established stand may need 8 to 12 herbicide sprays over two to three years.

Further information is available on the council's website: Japanese Knotweed.

Local background

• Glasgow City Council adopted an Invasive Non-Native Plants Policy in June 2010 and identifies knotweed and giant hogweed as the two invasive plants of particular concern in the city. (source)

The law in Scotland

In Scotland, the Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011 changed the law so that it is an offence to plant, or otherwise cause to grow, any plant in the wild outside its native range, which includes Japanese knotweed. A Scottish Government code of practice on non-native species explains what's expected of landowners; it is under review following a 2025 report by Environmental Standards Scotland.

See our guidance on Japanese knotweed and the law.