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What type of bamboo is this?

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  • vicks2022vicks2022 Posts: 8
    edited August 2022
    Are there any other visible canes which you can photograph in situ @vicks2022?  The colour, diameter, height and leaf arrangement on the canes may help with identification.  

    This is all I have. The canes are so thick, you can’t break through it with loppers or a spade, only the runners you could. Canes you can slightly see as I was trying to cut them down to deplete some energy at first. Most of it was ripped out as part of building works with a digger but it’s tough stuff. I’ve got these 
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    Hmm, that looks like a serious problem you have.  Those tall green canes look very much like a Phyllostachys bissetii that I have in my garden, but it could be another!  It's a running bamboo but often sold in Garden Centres without any warning!  I keep mine under control by reducing the canes to no more than 10 every year.  This year it sent up new canes nearly 12 foot tall so I'm getting a little concerned! 

    Removing as many canes as you can at ground level will weaken the rootstock - you'll need to use a pruning saw for this or a very robust pair of loppers.  I'm sure your neighbour's concerned too so a joint plan of action will be needed. 
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • Hmm, that looks like a serious problem you have.  Those tall green canes look very much like a Phyllostachys bissetii that I have in my garden, but it could be another!  It's a running bamboo but often sold in Garden Centres without any warning!  I keep mine under control by reducing the canes to no more than 10 every year.  This year it sent up new canes nearly 12 foot tall so I'm getting a little concerned! 

    Removing as many canes as you can at ground level will weaken the rootstock - you'll need to use a pruning saw for this or a very robust pair of loppers.  I'm sure your neighbour's concerned too so a joint plan of action will be needed. 
    Thank you. Yes unfortunately a majority of it is their side and breaking through but instead of making a plan of action it has become a whose issue is it, which is unfortunate given it needs to be done and neither of us planted it.

    All of that in the picture has been removed now, foundations were dug for a small extension so a digger ripped it all out but in terms of how far runners have gone I don’t know. Are the runners usually not far off surface level? They had a few pop up near their house and have recently ripped some up.  Unfortunately no one picked up on this when we both purchased our homes, also the previous sellers didn’t declare at one point it had grown into drains affecting neighbouring houses and had to get it taken out 
  • KT53KT53 Posts: 9,016
    There would be no reason for a surveyor to raise concern about its presence.  It's not a notifiable plant like knotweed.
    Removing it will be a major job, but it is doable and may require the patio to be lifted to get to the runners.  As you can see in the photo's it doesn't generally root very deep, but that lot is very long established.
  • KT53 said:
    There would be no reason for a surveyor to raise concern about its presence.  It's not a notifiable plant like knotweed.
    Removing it will be a major job, but it is doable and may require the patio to be lifted to get to the runners.  As you can see in the photo's it doesn't generally root very deep, but that lot is very long established.
    Thank you.
    when you say a major job - like excavation? Also - how do you tell it’s long established? 

    My bamboo knowledge is limited


  • KT53KT53 Posts: 9,016
    edited August 2022
    A lot of digging, but not to any great depth.  The tangle of runners indicate that it has been there for quite a long time.
  • KT53 said:
    A lot of digging, but not to any great depth.  The tangle of runners indicate that it has been there for quite a long time.
    Thanks for your help and advice 👍. Reassured me a bit lol! Will keep digging and keeping on top of it 
  • thevictorianthevictorian Posts: 1,279
    edited August 2022
    Bamboo are shallow rooted. I'll let someone with more knowledge confirm but I think the bigger types only throw out canes in the top 2ft of soil (or top 2ft has roots, new canes tend to be shallower). 
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    I have broken a spade on one before. The roots don't go down that far but are very dense that is the problem
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
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