The joy of bamboo
Discussion
Hi all, hoping for any advice or suggestions about our situation.
We moved home a few months ago, found a great place that ticked pretty much all the boxes in terms of space, location, layout, neighbourhood, etc., and it's very much our long-term home as we start our family and fully expect and hope to be here for at least 10-15 years if not more. Very pleased, and proud, to be in a lovely area, with plenty space and off-street parking, decent schools nearby, generally well-to-do with nice neighbours that always have a smile and a wave and will take in parcels and look out for each other but also mostly mind their own business - it's a nice balance.
We viewed late Autumn and early winter, and completed the sale earlier this year. Since then, as the weather has warmed, we've come to realise that the plants that the neighbour behind us has in the corner of his garden is bamboo - and you've guessed it, it's clearly not the clumping variety, it's the running stuff.
And it's everywhere. Shoots are coming up every 2-3 days, growing by as much as 6 inches in a day. Some are right by the boundary fence, most are coming through the lawn within a couple of feet of the boundary, and the occasional one has appeared over a couple of metres from the boundary.
I've mentioned the issue to the neighbour over the garden fence, who was unaware of the problem and obviously the previous owners of the house hadn't complained to him. (I can believe that, as the couple we bought from had no interest in gardening - the front was overgrown and the back is just a lawn with zero plants). The neighbour said that the bamboos had been planted with containment/barriers around them, but obviously it's escaped the containment for some time.
Said neighbour was friendly and welcoming when we moved in - stuck his head over the fence when we were in the garden and introduced himself and said to let them know if there was anything we needed. However I'm disappointed that after letting him know about the problem, he's done nothing and I'm not sure really understands the scale of the issue that these rhizomes can present. On the other hand, him and the previous owners of our property have lived side by side for 23 years since the houses were built, and he could well be thinking that we're making a mountain out of a molehill since the previous owners never complained.
But having to do daily checks for shoots and growth and scrabbling around in the soil to cut rhizomes (some of which may or may not be getting injected with ridiculously strong glyphosate
) while they're sitting on the patio in the sun with a glass of wine is pretty galling.
Short of setting fire to it, any other ideas on containment, or is it realistically up to the neighbour to do something? And is the neighbour, despite initial friendliness, being a bit of an asshole with their apparent disinterest in their invasive bamboo riddling our garden and lawn and likely requiring some expensive excavation works to remove it all?
Having just moved in, obviously the last thing I want is to create an issue with the neighbours and create tension and conflict that will probably affect me more than the other party. Any thoughts on how to proceed, or prior similar experiences, would be great.
We moved home a few months ago, found a great place that ticked pretty much all the boxes in terms of space, location, layout, neighbourhood, etc., and it's very much our long-term home as we start our family and fully expect and hope to be here for at least 10-15 years if not more. Very pleased, and proud, to be in a lovely area, with plenty space and off-street parking, decent schools nearby, generally well-to-do with nice neighbours that always have a smile and a wave and will take in parcels and look out for each other but also mostly mind their own business - it's a nice balance.
We viewed late Autumn and early winter, and completed the sale earlier this year. Since then, as the weather has warmed, we've come to realise that the plants that the neighbour behind us has in the corner of his garden is bamboo - and you've guessed it, it's clearly not the clumping variety, it's the running stuff.
And it's everywhere. Shoots are coming up every 2-3 days, growing by as much as 6 inches in a day. Some are right by the boundary fence, most are coming through the lawn within a couple of feet of the boundary, and the occasional one has appeared over a couple of metres from the boundary.
I've mentioned the issue to the neighbour over the garden fence, who was unaware of the problem and obviously the previous owners of the house hadn't complained to him. (I can believe that, as the couple we bought from had no interest in gardening - the front was overgrown and the back is just a lawn with zero plants). The neighbour said that the bamboos had been planted with containment/barriers around them, but obviously it's escaped the containment for some time.
Said neighbour was friendly and welcoming when we moved in - stuck his head over the fence when we were in the garden and introduced himself and said to let them know if there was anything we needed. However I'm disappointed that after letting him know about the problem, he's done nothing and I'm not sure really understands the scale of the issue that these rhizomes can present. On the other hand, him and the previous owners of our property have lived side by side for 23 years since the houses were built, and he could well be thinking that we're making a mountain out of a molehill since the previous owners never complained.
But having to do daily checks for shoots and growth and scrabbling around in the soil to cut rhizomes (some of which may or may not be getting injected with ridiculously strong glyphosate
) while they're sitting on the patio in the sun with a glass of wine is pretty galling.Short of setting fire to it, any other ideas on containment, or is it realistically up to the neighbour to do something? And is the neighbour, despite initial friendliness, being a bit of an asshole with their apparent disinterest in their invasive bamboo riddling our garden and lawn and likely requiring some expensive excavation works to remove it all?
Having just moved in, obviously the last thing I want is to create an issue with the neighbours and create tension and conflict that will probably affect me more than the other party. Any thoughts on how to proceed, or prior similar experiences, would be great.
It would be a terrible shame to have a proper falling out with your new neighbours, so unless he has decided that his bamboo on his side of the fence is surplus to requirements, I think you're going to have to play hunt the shoot for a while. To stop a live bamboo, you're going to have to put a barrier on your side of the fence, by digging a ditch, and putting something bamboo proof (like mild steel 
) in the hole. The rhizomes allegedly only go a foot down, even if the root system goes three or four.
If you're feeling kindly disposed, maybe take beer/wine round, and see if they'd be amenable to great big pots - dig up the existing clump, split, re-plant into pots, meaning they can glyphosate the stuff still in the soil, and bob may or may not be your uncles brother.
) in the hole. The rhizomes allegedly only go a foot down, even if the root system goes three or four.If you're feeling kindly disposed, maybe take beer/wine round, and see if they'd be amenable to great big pots - dig up the existing clump, split, re-plant into pots, meaning they can glyphosate the stuff still in the soil, and bob may or may not be your uncles brother.
Some good info here
https://bambooshield.com/pages/how-to-control-bamb...
I have used HSK bamboo control system (widely available ,Amazon etc) but installation can be heavy work. The plastic is about 70cm and needs to be installed in a trench 60cm below ground with 10cm sticking up above ground to restrict surface shoots.
Dosing with glyphosate is risky as I assume your neighbour doesn't want it destroyed. That could cause major dispute if they discover you are trying to kill the whole lot off
https://bambooshield.com/pages/how-to-control-bamb...
I have used HSK bamboo control system (widely available ,Amazon etc) but installation can be heavy work. The plastic is about 70cm and needs to be installed in a trench 60cm below ground with 10cm sticking up above ground to restrict surface shoots.
Dosing with glyphosate is risky as I assume your neighbour doesn't want it destroyed. That could cause major dispute if they discover you are trying to kill the whole lot off
No advice on the bamboo but think you should check your attitude to it a little. Expecting immediate action on a plant that’s been there for years just because you’ve moved in is a bit OTT imo.
Questioning the a
holeness of a friendly and welcoming neighbour doesn’t shower you in glory.
Questioning the a
holeness of a friendly and welcoming neighbour doesn’t shower you in glory. If there's still no talk of getting it sorted after a month I'd let some grow so you can pop round and ask him if he had any thoughts on getting the bamboo sorted and actually show him the problem.
If as you say, the previous neighbours weren't bothered and you're pulling it up before it gets large, he may just think it's non-urgent.
If as you say, the previous neighbours weren't bothered and you're pulling it up before it gets large, he may just think it's non-urgent.
sherman said:
Give the guy a chance. He might now be planning to dig it out. Its not exactly a small job so is probably waiting for a bank holiday or such like.
Boo-urns said:
If I were you I'd simply ask him if he's thinking of getting rid of it but phrase it in such a way that suggests you'd just like to know so you can plan what to do on your side of the fence. I'd also say to him that if — and make sure to stress, only if — he's planning on getting rid, you'd be happy to help out.
If not, dig down and put some sort of barrier in, as has already been suggested.
Don't get into the mindset of this being 'his fault' or being in any way resentful about it — these things do happen in surburban gardens.
Thanks all, and yeah it's the above mindset that I keep checking/reminding myself to adopt.If not, dig down and put some sort of barrier in, as has already been suggested.
Don't get into the mindset of this being 'his fault' or being in any way resentful about it — these things do happen in surburban gardens.
With bamboo stalks aggressively growing through your lawn it's easy to get fearful over the lack of control over it, and not knowing where the next one will appear, and thinking about it in an accusatory way. If I get the appropriate opportunity to speak with them I'd certainly be open to inviting him over for a cuppa and to look at the boundary from my side where the ground is riddled with old dead rhizomes, plus the fat, glistening, inch-thick rhizome I exposed this morning under the lawn, about two metres from the boundary.
budgie smuggler said:
If there's still no talk of getting it sorted after a month I'd let some grow so you can pop round and ask him if he had any thoughts on getting the bamboo sorted and actually show him the problem.
If as you say, the previous neighbours weren't bothered and you're pulling it up before it gets large, he may just think it's non-urgent.
That said, it's almost a month ago that I mentioned the problem, nothing has been done. The new growth (this season) that's occurring in both corners of their garden is being allowed to grow higher than ever - it's now up to 10-12ft high and for whatever reason he's not doing anything to cut it at least down to the height of the more established long-term growth. Can't help but think that if I were in his situation, I'd be pretty concerned and following up with enquiries if a neighbour had informed me that my plants were invasively spreading throughout another garden, and taking some basic action to stunt and control the growth and energy of the plant.If as you say, the previous neighbours weren't bothered and you're pulling it up before it gets large, he may just think it's non-urgent.
Leaving it to grow a little, although completely counter-intuitive, might indeed be the best way of illustrating to him the scale of the problem. Bribery with wine and a suggestion that some pots or containment on his side would be the best long-term solution might help get some action. However I have a feeling that removing the bamboo isn't on the cards in his mind - it's well established and pretty dense in the worst affected corner. What I can't understand is how he seemingly has no issues himself with rampant bamboo popping up everywhere - or maybe the rhizome barrier was only put in along the sides facing his house and garden.
The ironic thing is I quite like the bamboo - it looks nice and is great for softening the corners of the garden and providing some screening - just wish it was the clumping variety and not this relentless running rhizome type!
I don't think there's much risk from treating any cut ends with glyphosate - from what I've read, you can virtually drench a bamboo plant in the stuff, cut it all down and the root/rhizome system still has enough resilience and energy to come back in 2-3 years. But any shoot or rhizome that appears in my garden I presume I'm within my rights to treat like any other weed - unless I decide to let it grow a bit to illustrate the issue.
mcelliott said:
Getting rid of bamboo is a huge task, weedkiller will not kill it and any sort of barrier is a complete waste of time, if it's really established then it's going to be mechanical digger, and a lot of expense.
Oh god 
In which case I'm wondering, how do I get them to take responsibility for what they've planted and the costs of removal?We absolutely can't have years ahead of rhizomes tunneling their way just under the surface of our lawn. The area next to the boundary is where it's sunniest (east-facing back garden) and where we will need to install patios and paving next year in order to have some usable outdoor space. Plus with a little one running round and exploring the garden next summer, we can't be having thick shoots popping up overnight, nor liberal applications of glyphosate to the weeds.
Just put weed killer on it. It's on your side, so deal with it as you see fit.
I had a similar issue. This stuff killed a load of ivy. I'm sure it'd make mincemeat of bamboo.
RootBlast - RootBlast 360 Glyphosate Home Garden Weedkiller - 1L Bottle with Integral Measuring Device Pair - Includes Pair Of gloves - 1L Makes Up to 50L https://amzn.eu/d/g4n237E
I had a similar issue. This stuff killed a load of ivy. I'm sure it'd make mincemeat of bamboo.
RootBlast - RootBlast 360 Glyphosate Home Garden Weedkiller - 1L Bottle with Integral Measuring Device Pair - Includes Pair Of gloves - 1L Makes Up to 50L https://amzn.eu/d/g4n237E
Sod glyphosate, try this stuff. Not cheap though:
https://www.agrigem.co.uk/paradise-50g
https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_t...
https://www.agrigem.co.uk/paradise-50g
https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_t...
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