South Wales, UK - Everything You Need To Know About Bamboo in Swansea

Bamboo has been steadily growing in popularity for some UK homeowners in the last 10 years, however, unknown to many it is a vigorous and fast-growing plant that is very difficult to contain and control. If you have or think you have Bamboo in Swansea then you should seek advice from a specialist like South Wales Knotweed & Garden Services who will advise you on your best course of action to ensure it doesn’t grow out of control.

Bamboo is known and loved for its decorative appearance and often its fast growth which provides privacy in overlooked gardens in cities, towns and suburbs and many homeowners plant it without realising its fast growth and ability to spread and take over other vegetation. You should be very wary of planting it or taking on a property where it is present as it is now known that some types of bamboo are highly invasive and extremely difficult to control.

The UK Invasive Weed Control Industry is being called on more and more to remove and control bamboo where it has been planted at a property without knowing how it will likely take over, or where it has spread from a neighbouring garden.

In summary, they have said, that invasive bamboo is becoming a major problem for British homeowners who may not have realised its growth speed and its invasiveness if not effectively controlled. In some cases, the ‘running’ bamboo varieties can extend up to 30ft underground as well as its extensive above-ground growth.

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Bamboo isn’t currently classed as an invasive plant in the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and there are no restrictions when planting it, however, the weed control industry is advising that bamboo can be as unpredictable as Japanese Knotweed with the same ability to spread, quickly grow and infest large areas of soil.

There have been more and more recent claims from homeowners who have taken legal action against neighbours and properties around them where their bamboo has been allowed to spread onto their properties and become a severe problem for them. There are different varieties of the bamboo plant and some are more invasive and destructive than others.

Both the clumping and running types, all have large underground root and rhizome systems, making them extremely difficult to control and remove without using an invasive plant specialist like South Wales Japanese Knotweed.

Running Bamboo is the type that spreads quickly over and underground. It distributes long, lateral rhizomes (root system), which can sometimes reach up to 30ft from the main plant.

Due to the distance running bamboo can spread, it has been said that it can have the potential to be more damaging than Japanese knotweed and it has similar abilities to exploit and push through broken or cracked brickwork, drains, walls and patios causing more damage as it grows.

Clumping Bamboo is known to be less invasive than running bamboo, however, if it is left uncontrolled and unmanaged it can spread and quickly grow out of control.

If planting bamboo you should always check with a specialist about the type you use, as well as planting it in containers or with strong root barrier systems in place to contain it to the area you want it for, which will prevent the likelihood of it spreading.

Contact us on 01269 591651 today and we can arrange a free, and no-obligation site survey.