Bamboo Removal & Control

Bamboo Removal: Before & After

Methods

Whilst many property owners and homeowners are well aware of the capacity of Japanese Knotweed to cause problems to land and building structures, a lesser known but hugely problematic invasive plant is bamboo.

Bamboo is known as an architectural garden plant that has become increasingly popular over the last decade. Sought after for both its aesthetic appeal and the privacy it can provide, bamboo is readily available in most garden centres across the country. However, whilst its rapid growth rate is often initially seen as a benefit, it can mimic Japanese Knotweed in how its rhizomes (root systems) form, with the capacity to grow extremely quickly, in poor soil conditions and will exploit any cracks or weaknesses in walls, patios, tarmac, block-paving and many other structures.

With over a decade of experience in the treatment, eradication and removal of bamboo and other invasive plant species and problematic weeds, we can advise you on whether you have bamboo and provide some guidance as to what we feel, would be the most proportionate remedial method to ensure the plant is under control. To date, we have carried out in excess of 100 excavations at residential premises located between The Pembrokeshire Coast, to West London. In our experience bamboo rhizome is far, far more destructive than Japanese Knotweed. The only notable difference is that bamboo is not such an obvious feature within the UK landscape and is usually found growing within private gardens. Japanese Knotweed however is seen along roadsides, railways, watercourses, brownfield sites and many other areas.

Why we hold the view that bamboo rhizome has the capacity to be far more destructive than Japanese Knotweed

There are two distinct categories of bamboo – best described as ‘running’ bamboo and ‘clumping’ bamboo. Both of these types of bamboo are invasive and behave similarly to the root systems of Japanese Knotweed in that they create vast root systems underground where they regularly extend several metres. Clumping bamboo forms tight rhizome ‘crowns’ under the soil that although spread laterally, tend to do so at a far less rate than its running counterpart and will not usually colonise vast areas of soil. Running bamboo is the type that will usually cause serious issues for homeowners.  In the vast majority of cases, bamboo is planted along a boundary. Due to its tendency to form long, horizontal stems, running bamboo can quickly spread and take over large areas of both your garden and that of your adjacent neighbours (and sometimes beyond).

Running bamboo rhizomes stretch for several metres underground, with some species being able to extend up to a span of twenty metres, its speedy growth results in it being able to infiltrate cracks and weaknesses in concrete and other building materials, having the capacity to seriously damage building structures. This is why it really is imperative that any bamboo is planted within an effective root barrier, in order to contain inevitable spread and potential encroachment into neighbouring properties.

Bamboo Rhizomes

Bamboo rhizomes are also often less brittle than their Japanese Knotweed equivalent, which can be a challenge to remove. A simple explanation would be that, once a bamboo rhizome has established itself within the soil or amongst a solid structure, removing it can, upon occasion, be akin to attempting to remove a rope from a solid slab of concrete or removing the roots of a small tree that has been growing and has settled within the soil for a few years.

All of these traits of bamboo are not commonly known by the UK public and it remains a very popular plant to grow due to its ease of planting, quick growth and impressive aesthetic appeal. We have come across countless incidents of ‘professional’ commercial contractors / landscaping companies who have planted bamboo in residential gardens without installing a suitable root barrier beforehand (which is absolutely critical to prevent encroachment). We have also found there are many wholesalers who sell bamboo without providing any guidance to homeowners about the actual species or the importance of the root barrier as mentioned above.

Bamboo Rhizome Removal Challenges and Professional Bamboo Removal

Due to the prolific and extensive nature of bamboo growth, it can be a difficult plant to contain and remove once the rhizome establishes itself within the ground. The network of rhizomes under the soil can extend anywhere from a few metres, up to twenty metres away from the main plant (which we have first-hand knowledge of). New shoots can grow along each rhizome to create a complex root system network that can grow in all directions, like that of Japanese Knotweed. The removal of bamboo, just like Japanese Knotweed, is a labour-intensive process that requires detailed planning and expert excavation from bamboo remediation specialists to ensure that the plant is thoroughly located and removed.

​​When it comes to permanently eradicating bamboo from your property or garden space, bamboo excavation, sometimes paired with herbicides, is the most effective method available. While manual removal of bamboo is laborious, it is often the quickest and most efficient way to eradicate bamboo from your land, as using a herbicide in isolation can often take several years before seeing any results. It is always important to carefully consider which approach is optimal for your individual bamboo infestation. And we have found that a combined excavation followed by a consistent herbicide application programme over 2-3 years may be the most prudent solution.

Our team of bamboo specialists is accredited by the Property Care Association (PCA), ensuring that no damage will occur to your home or property when removing a bamboo infestation. We offer bamboo surveys, bamboo control methods, and bamboo removal services in South Wales, West Wales, the South West of England, and along the M4 corridor to West London & Surrey. There is no bamboo problem or infestation that we cannot help you with.