Every single thing You Need To Know About Bamboo in Barry

Bamboo has been continuously thriving in appeal for some UK house owners in the last ten years, nevertheless, unknown to many it is an active and fast-growing grass that is incredibly troublesome to contain and manage. In case you have or even think you have Bamboo Barry you need to get advice and suggestions from a professional like South Wales Knotweed who will advise you regarding action you should take in order to ensure it does not grow out of control.

Bamboo is known and adored for its attractive visual appeal as well as its quick growth which offers personal privacy in overlooked gardens in urban areas, towns and cities, and a lot of house owners plant it without understanding its rapid growth and capability to spread and take control of other vegetation. Home and business owners need to be extremely cautious of planting it or taking on a property in which it is planted as it is now understood that a number of varieties of bamboo are very invasive and remarkably difficult to control.

The UK Invasive Weed Control Industry is being contacted more and more to eradicate and regulate bamboo where it has been planted at a property without understanding the way it may likely take over, or even where it has actually spread from a neighbouring garden.

They have explained, that intrusive bamboo is certainly becoming a significant problem for British homeowners who may not have realised its growth speed and its invasiveness if not proficiently managed. Sometimes, the ‘running’ bamboo varieties can extend up to 30ft underground as well as its extensive above-ground growth.

Many mortgage lenders in the UK and The RICS (The Royal Insitute Of Chartered Surveyors) are extremely averse to lending on a property where Japanese Knotweed is present or has been present, and an increasing number of them are now realising that bamboo is likewise a significant problem yet is still unrecognised by property owners as an invasive plant that can easily grow out of control if not planted correctly and managed.

Bamboo seeds can still easily be purchased on the internet or from garden centres all over the UK and this is contributing to the issue that property owners are still unaware of the consequences of cultivating and not controlling it. This regularly results in it growing out of control and taking over the other plants and vegetation in a garden and even spreading to other house owners’ gardens and land.

Green Leaf Remediation have seen a large surge in the number of enquiries being received from apprehensive homeowners who have sown bamboo and inadvertently allowed the plant to grow out of control. Our UK weed experts will evaluate the growth and inform you of our ideal management and extraction solutions offering you the assurance that it will not take over your garden. Contact us at 01269 591651 right away and our team can arrange a free, and no-obligation site survey.

Bamboo in Barry FAQs

Is Bamboo an illegal plant in the UK?

Bamboo isn’t presently classed as an invasive plant in the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and there are absolutely no limitations when sowing it, having said that, the weed control industry is urging that bamboo can be as unpredictable as Japanese Knotweed with the very same ability to spread out, quickly grow and infest substantial areas of land.

There have been a growing number of recent claims from homeowners that have taken legal proceedings against neighbours and properties in which their bamboo has been permitted to expand onto their properties and turn into a severe concern for them. There are actually various varieties of the bamboo plant and some are more intrusive and damaging than others.

What types of Bamboo exist?

Both the clumping and running types, all possess large underground root and rhizome systems, making them remarkably troublesome to regulate and remove without choosing an invasive plant expert like South Wales Japanese Knotweed.

Running Bamboo is the kind that extends quickly over and also below ground. It disperses lengthy, lateral rhizomes (root system), which may often reach up to 30ft from the primary plant. This results in the plant fairly quickly spreading with fresh shoots and growth developing in new locations or onto other land or property causing disruption all around.

Because of the distance running bamboo spreads, it has been said that it can have the potential to be more harmful than Japanese knotweed and it has very similar abilities to exploit and force through broken or cracked brickwork, drains, wall structures and outdoor patios causing more damage as it grows.

Clumping Bamboo is known to be a lot less intrusive than running bamboo, even so, if it is left uncontrolled and unmanaged it can easily spread and very quickly grow out of control.

If planting bamboo you really should always consult an expert regarding the variety you choose, together with planting it in containers or with strong root barrier systems in position in order to contain it to the location you want it for, which will avoid the likelihood of it spreading.

What is the big difference between clump-forming and running bamboo?

Clump-Forming Bamboo

This particular type of bamboo has a root mass similar to normal ornamental grasses, spreading out from the centre and never developing canes beyond 5-10cm from the existing plant.

Running Bamboo

A running bamboo spreads by its horizontal below-ground stems from which overground canes then grow. This underground stem extends and shoots up another cane 60-80cm away from the first planting site allowing it to quickly spread out. This is why a bamboo’s roots must be contained by a root barrier system or in an appropriate container to prevent them from spreading aggressively and colonizing sections of the soil you don’t want them in.

Varieties Of Clump-Forming Bamboo

Fargesia murielae ‘Simba’
Fargesia murielae ‘Volacno’
Fargesia murieliae ‘Winter Joy’
Fargesia murieliae ‘Rufa’
Fargesia nitide

Varieties Of Running Bamboo

Phyllostachys aurea
Phyllostachys aureosulcata f. spectabilis
Phyllostachys Nigra
Pleioblastus pygmaeus Distichus
Pleioblastus variegatus
Pleioblastus viridistriatus
Sasa tsuboiana
Sasa veitchi

How fast does Bamboo in Barry grow?

This all depends upon the type of bamboo as well as the environmental factors of the location, soil, air, water and general ground conditions. Bamboo is understood to be a highly unpredictable plant which means you ought to take exceptional care and advice from a professional if growing it or purchasing a property where it exists. It is extremely hardy and will grow in dry, hard soil without sunlight or if there is a lot of rain.

In general:

Running Bamboo will usually grow to its fully grown height remarkably quickly and spread aggressively. Many can grow to 8 metres whilst others just achieve 1 metre, turning it into a huge unknown when planting it, or even if you currently have it on your property. Their roots need to be contained to stop them from spreading as their brand-new canes can grow 90cm to 1.5 metres taller every year until they get to their utmost growing height.

Clump-forming bamboo has a tendency to grow no higher than 5 metres high due to its modest culms but they can grow equally as wide in time if not effectively managed. The new canes of clump-forming bamboo can easily grow up to 30-45cm taller every year up until it achieves its maximum height.

What is bamboo culm?

The bamboo culm is used to describe the bamboo shoot itself. The culms are actually mainly hollow, however, a number of species have solid culms. There is a solid joint at the beginning and end of each culm segment, called a node and the internodes are the segments in between the nodes.

Is Bamboo in Barry invasive?

Bamboo is remarkably invasive and like Japanese Knotweed, it spreads out using its root system and will be invasive if not managed by a professional like South Wales Knotweed. Bamboo is remarkably sturdy meaning it will grow in most soils and in extreme climate conditions.

Unfortunately, Bamboo has now acquired a bad reputation for reckless planting as if planting with the correct control methods in place, it can be manageable.

Bamboo spreads from its fast-growing roots that push horizontally through the soil with its lateral buds which then drive upwards to create the canes. Running bamboo will cover ground more quickly than a clump-forming bamboo type and usually takes property owners by surprise at precisely how quickly it spreads out.

What types of ground does Bamboo flourish in?

Bamboo is exceptionally robust and not at all fussy when it pertains to soil type. This can be an advantage if grown for the right reasons and appropriately controlled.

Is Bamboo a wood, a grass plant or a tree?

Not many people know that bamboo is grass, however, most of the fast-growing invasive bamboo types have a very tree-like appearance so are often referred to as bamboo trees. Their stems can be anything from a few centimetres in height and as much as 8 metres in just a couple of years, with their stem diameters ranging anything from 1 mm to 30 cm.

Can you grow Bamboo in pots?

If you would like to grow Bamboo in Barry at your home, it could be grown in pots or containers depending on which type they are. Growing them in a pot or container will certainly stop them from spreading out and cultivating your property.

Can Bamboo decrease the value of a property?

Bamboo is becoming much more well known in the property, mortgage and the UK invasive weed industry as a plant that can devalue a property due to its extremely invasive and unpredictable nature.

Increasingly more mortgage companies are now asking if bamboo exists at a residential or commercial property and some may possibly not lend on it therefore always do your research before providing on a property and making an application for a mortgage.

Is Bamboo harmful to humans?

When eaten, bamboo contains a toxin that generates cyanide in the human stomach. The shoots can be edible, having said that, they need to have their exteriors cut away and then afterwards be boiled before consuming them. Our team would recommend that human beings and pets do not eat bamboo.

Is Bamboo stronger than timber?

Bamboo is known to be 2-3 times harder than most hardwoods from the Janka Hardness Test which is employed for categorising lumber by its hardness. The universal Janka hardness test (from the Austrian-born emigrant Gabriel Janka, 1864-1932) measures the level of resistance of a sample of wood to denting and wear.

Is Bamboo green in winter months?

Most varieties of bamboo are evergreen thus they stay green and vibrant all throughout the winter season when the majority of other plants have died back and this has helped to make them extremely appealing to homeowners who don’t understand their invasive growth. They may drop a few leaves during the year but it isn’t a substantial amount.

Property Care Association Bamboo Comments

Dr Peter Fitzsimons of the Property Care Association, a trade body representing invasive weed control contractors and consultants, said bamboos are “woody” grass that has commercial significance in their native home. However, he said that in the UK the plant has qualities similar to those of an “alien invasive species”.

Some of those features consist of being fast-spreading, dominating native vegetation and being resistant to natural predators, for instance, insects or fungi.

He added: “We have been calling for some time for the many species of bamboo to be added to Schedule 9 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act to enable effective regulation.”.

What is the Property Care Association?

The Property Care Association (PCA) is the UK’s leading trade association that represents specialists who can be trusted to resolve issues impacting buildings and residential or commercial property in general.

What the PCA say regarding their service providers

1. Professional trustworthy site surveys and investigations that deliver peace of mind through detailed investigation and correct diagnosis for homeowners and businesses
2. Services are provided by trained, experienced, vetted and qualified surveyors and inspectors
3. Contractor members are able to complete highly specialised repairs and treatments, effectively, efficiently and safely, using skilled experienced site operatives
4. PCA members are required to meet and maintain robust membership criteria. This covers aspects of services including professional qualifications, technical competence, service delivery & financial stability

About Our Bamboo Management & Control Services in Barry

Bamboo makes a favourable contribution to the natural environment as well as it being aesthetically pleasing and is an excellent plant to use if you are looking for privacy in an area. Nevertheless, our experts recommend extraordinary care and we would certainly not advise planting Bamboo in Barry in an ordinary domestic garden as a result of its invasive root growth. It will spread out below ground and grow quickly above ground, taking over the other plants and vegetation in a garden.

Sowing Bamboo is quite similar to growing Japanese Knotweed in your back garden, however, it isn’t yet illegal to do so. Japanese Knotweed is well known by homeowners as being an invasive weed but Bamboo seeds and plants are still extensively offered for sale throughout the UK but possess the same invasive characteristics as Knotweed and are going to rapidly take over an area if not handled correctly.

South Wales Knotweed have seen how intrusive Bamboo in Barry is and we have actually helped several homeowners who were initially unaware of its harmful and unpredictable nature whenever they initially planted it, or when they first brought their home to remove and control their bamboo infestation.

Bamboo in Barry is often planted along borders in or about a structure to provide privacy to a property. Throughout the last few years, we have indeed observed exactly how this has resulted in many awkward as well as preventable disagreements with neighbours when the bamboo has expanded out of control onto their land.

Our view is that whilst bamboo is not yet certified as an invasive weed as Japanese Knotweed is, better awareness and concern for this plant are needed. There are over 100 species of bamboo, with upwards of 30 or so varying species typically found in the UK.

The general guide to the different bamboo rhizomes (roots) is:

Runners – these will ‘run’, meaning, spread laterally and quickly.
Clumpers – these will continue to grow if not correctly controlled and managed, however, they won’t colonise as much soil as the running species do.

Bamboo is one of the fastest-growing plants on earth and will quickly colonise new soil, and in doing this, will very quickly consume open spaces and can cause major damage to many solid structures.

The rhizomes aren’t as brittle as their Japanese Knotweed equivalent, making them a challenge to get rid of if you are not a professional. Once a bamboo rhizome has established itself within the ground or between a solid structure, taking it out is the same as trying to remove a rope from a solid block of concrete.

South Wales Knotweed provide different removal and control solutions when it involves bamboo. Every single infestation will have its own challenges and our experts will calculate the most effective eradication and management methods depending on your property and site.

In many situations, our experts work with an excavator to remove the majority of the bamboo’s rhizome. We can additionally install an effective ‘root barrier’ which avoids the rhizome from continuing to spread within your own and neighbouring properties. If you would like some of the bamboo to stay then our specialists will offer you a control and management solution so it can remain without spreading into regions you don’t want it to.

If you have an infestation of bamboo or are worried you have Bamboo in Barry contact us today at 01269 591651 to arrange your complimentary and no-obligation site survey. Our bamboo experts will evaluate and offer you different solutions based on your residential or commercial property and needs.

The British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI) has a directory of members offering invasive weed control which can be found here.