HOTSPOTS for invasive Japanese knotweed have been tracked across the county as it enters its peak growing phase.

Gardeners in Berkshire have been warned to look out for red asparagus-like shoots expected to appear throughout April.

The knotweed starts to grow rapidly this time of year , turning from red to green before forming hollow bamboo-like canes.

By late spring it is covered in heart-shaped green leaves, but is described in the industry as the UK's most aggressive, destructive plant'.

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It is hard to treat without professional help and can even reduce a property's value by about 10 per cent.

So, experts have warned those who are spending more time in their gardens during lockdown to keep an eye out.

To help, a heatmap of hotspots has been created for the area by Environet UK.

It is currently showing that there are 45 infestations in Reading within a 4km radius, and in Wokingham there a re 10 cases.

Experts say, as a result, that these areas are hotspots for more cases.

Environet founder Nic Seal said: “Our message to homeowners who discover Japanese knotweed growing in their garden over the next few weeks is not to panic and resist the temptation to deal with it themselves.

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“In most cases knotweed can still be removed during the lockdown period, but if this isn’t possible it won’t make a huge amount of difference to leave the plant growing until restrictions are lifted.

"A failed attempt to dig it up could help it spread and spraying the plant with herbicide makes professional treatment more difficult further down the line. Where we cannot treat or remove knotweed due to current Covid-19 restrictions, we pledge to tackle at no further cost any resulting spread on clients’ property.”

To look for reported cases in your area, via postcodes, click here for the heatmap.