Bamboo Roots

Posts

• Plantminded Posts: 3,580

  12 January

  If you are on good terms with your neighbour, have a word to see if they can prevent this problem by inserting a root barrier between their bamboo and the fence. You could also do this on your side as an extra precaution. My bamboo is restricted by stone walling and shallow soil but if a root escapes next door I go round and remove it.  Many people don't realise the potential problems with non-clumping bamboos which need to be carefully managed and pruned regularly to prevent damage to property.

  Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.
  
  
  

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• Topbird Posts: 8,355

  12 January

  Bamboo can be a real menace. We inherited one which had few redeeming features and was rapidly spreading throughout a border. Our new (to us) neighbours asked if we could do anything about it as the bamboo had spread to their side and was (significantly) lifting paving slabs on their patio and they were concerned about the foundations of their conservatory. 
  
  Together we launched a concerted effort to remove it. We both dug it out and applied glyphosate on any new shoots as they appeared. Took a whole season to declare it gone and the root ball was well over half a metre deep and had a spread of about 3 metres. Because of this experience I would never, ever plant (any) bamboo in a border.
  
  If you're on good terms with your neighbour I would explain the problem and see if you can agree a solution. Failing that I would dig out every last scrap on your side of the border, install a barrier per Plantminded's post and zap any new shoots with glyphosate during the active growing season as soon as you see them.
  
  If that ends up weakening the parent plant - too bad - you don't want that monster in your garden and you are entitled to remove any trespassing plants.
  
  

  Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
  

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• GardenerSuze Posts: 5,692

  12 January

  @lynnerose72 My daughter dug one up in her garden when it appeared through the neighbours decking.
  
  A house surveyor will look forbamboo in both the garden of the house they are surveying and check neighbouring properties too if possible.  People often plant it for privacy not realising that it is important to sever the roots at least once a year to stop it spreading.

  I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.

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