While bamboo is a popular plant for aesthetic reasons, it’s not always the best practical choice – in fact, if left unchecked, it can spread like wildfire and cause significant disruption. The unique style of the ornamental canes of bamboo have made them a popular garden addition, combined with their ability to create beautiful screens for privacy, it’s no wonder so many people want this plant in their garden.  

If you’ve found yourself with bamboo running rampant, you’re probably looking for some advice for managing your bamboo growth. If that’s the case, you’re in the right place! In this blog we’ll be examining various methods of bamboo growth control. Before we get into it, there are two primary types of bamboo to know about; running bamboo and clumping bamboo.

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There are over 1,400 known species of bamboo found around the world. Many of these species are native to Asia and East Asia, with a few also native to South America.

Bamboo is widely considered to be very aesthetically valuable, and is cultivated for the unique look it can bring to a garden. However, what many people don’t realise is that bamboo can very quickly go from being a beautiful natural feature to a rapidly-growing menace that overwhelms your garden.

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Are you asking yourself the question - "can I grow bamboo in my garden?" You're in the right place, today we're going to answer all of your bamboo growing questions!

British homeowners are being warned to not grow bamboo in their garden due to the potential dangers that the oriental plant can bring, with experts likening the effects of bamboo to the notorious Japanese knotweed.

Due to its screening capabilities and use within outdoor privacy measure, bamboo is an extremely popular choice for homeowners up and down the country, particularly within urban areas. However, its abilities to become highly invasive and out of control mean it can cause unpredictable and irreversible damage. Which, unfortunately, was the case for one homeowner in Reading.

The unnamed homeowner was forced to unearth her entire garden after bamboo grew to several metres in height and began to spread right across her garden towards her property, damaging her patio in the process.

Various forms of bamboo exist, namely ‘clumping’ and running’ that can have negative effects on surrounding areas. In this case, the ‘running’ bamboo found within the homeowner’s garden started to grow a large network of root and ‘rhizomes’, wreaking havoc on the property.

The rhizomes of bamboo are capable of spreading up to 30ft and if left untreated, can spread across and invade neighbouring property posing a huge threat to the foundations of homes.

Just like Japanese knotweed, bamboo has the ability to strangle plots of land as a result of its capability to damage property, breach brick, patios and cause cracks in concrete. It is known to thrive in a variety of soils, environments and temperatures with little to no maintenance.

Experts have stated that if you do choose to house bamboo on your property to make sure you choose a clumping variety as opposed to the running types. It is also a good idea to ‘place it within a pot or bed which is lined with strong vertical root barrier designed to contain bamboo.’

A retired couple from Reading has said they were mis-sold their bamboo by a local nursery, stating they were promised it would not grow further than waist height and would not spread. However, the bamboo shot up and out damaging both the patio and approaching house.

Professional Removal Services

So to answer your question - "can I grow bamboo in my garden?" The answer is yes, but do so with caution! If you're worried about the effects of spreading bamboo, you might want to avoid growing it. However, Japanese knotweed is infinitely more concerning if it appears in your garden!

To ensure you’re not affected by the damaging effects of bamboo or Japanese knotweed, contact us to talk about professional removal. If you have spotted bamboo or knotweed on or near your property and want to act fast before major damage can be caused, then please do not hesitate to get in touch with a member of the Taylor Total Weed Control team. We have a number of treatment plans available for you to choose from.

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According to industry experts, invasive breeds of bamboo can be just as bad, if not worse than Japanese knotweed, in terms of its ability to spread underground.

In fact, invasive species of bamboo have rhizomes that can reach out up to 30 feet beneath the surface, crossing property boundaries and causing structural issues in the process.

Me Ol’ Bamboo

Bamboo has long been a well-liked plant in the UK, presenting an aesthetically pleasing option that doubles up as a barrier, with its privacy boosting properties commonly used for screening purposes.

However, new information about the plant’s intrusive qualities – particularly if left to its own devices and uncontrolled – highlights the negative impact this once beloved addition can have on your garden and your property as a whole.

Bamboo species typically fall under two different varieties, namely “clumping” and “running”. The latter in particular is the one to watch out for as this is the species that features long, lateral rhizomes that can stretch out afar underground.

Bamboozling Classification

While bamboo isn’t yet categorised under the “invasive species” category, the damage it can cause to a property can be costly. Worse still, it’s natural ability to spread can also cause lead it to encroach upon adjoining properties, leading to disputes between neighbours as well.

Sadly, due to bamboo’s current official status as a supposedly non-invasive plant, there are no existing restrictions relating to bamboo. As a result, sellers are under no obligation to tell potential buyers if the plant has posed a problem in the past or is likely to pose a problem in the future.

Love Thy Neighbour

Mark Montaldo, Director of UK civil litigation firm CEL Solicitors, had this to say:

“Bamboo is a growing problem as, unlike Japanese knotweed, it’s not officially classed as an invasive species and there are currently no restrictions on planting it. Consequently, there has been an increase in the number of neighbourly disputes following the encroachment of bamboo across garden borders.

“I have acted for a number of clients who have taken legal action against their neighbour for nuisance caused as a result of a bamboo infestation where the offending party has had to pay significant removal costs and legal bills.

“Due to the increase in nuisance claims it is something that the mortgage companies are closely looking at and I wouldn’t be surprised to see them imposing lending restrictions on properties that suffer with bamboo infestations in the future.”

Weed Removal Services

As you can see, bamboo is no run-of-the-mill garden plant and can pose serious issues if left to its own devices. As such, tackling this issue early doors can be the difference between a quiet life and going to war with your neighbours down the line.

If you suspect you may be running into issues with bamboo on your property, Taylor Weed Control can help. We have over 15 years’ experience within the weed control game and are more than capable of chopping your bamboo woes down to size in a jiffy.

Bottom line: don’t wait to get your bamboo issues under control. Don’t delay, call Taylor Weed today and save yourself a shed load of hassle along the way.

For more information on the variety of weed removal services available at Taylor Weed Control, why not drop us a line today? Call now on 029 2039 7554 or get in touch online by clicking the button below.

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