Everything You Should Know About Bamboo in Port Talbot

Some UK house owners have been enjoying bamboo’s popularity in the last ten years, but many are unaware that it is an extremely challenging plant to contain and regulate. Bamboo in Port Talbot should be treated by a specialist like South Wales Knotweed if anyone has it or you suspect it may be at your property. To prevent it from growing out of control, we can provide you with advice for management solutions so you may not have to remove it completely.

The bamboo plant is known for its ornamental appearance and for its rapid growth, which provides privacy in overlooked urban, suburban, and rural gardens.  In recent years, many house owners have planted it without understanding how quickly it grows and how quickly it can overtake other plants and vegetation. It is now known that many varieties of bamboo are extremely invasive and incredibly difficult to control, so you should be extremely cautious about planting it or taking over a home where it is.

A growing number of property owners are turning to the UK Invasive Weed Control Industry to remove and manage invasive plants that have been planted at residential properties without the knowledge that they may take over a garden or even an adjoining property.

Experts in the Invasive Weed Control Industry believe that intrusive bamboo is becoming a huge problem for British homeowners who may not have realised its growth rate or its invasiveness. Besides their significant above-ground growth, some of the ‘running’ bamboo varieties can extend as much as 30ft below ground.

In the UK, a number of home mortgage lenders and the RICS (The Royal Institute Of Chartered Surveyors) are averse to lending on properties that have Japanese Knotweed present or have had it present and homeowners are gradually becoming aware that it is a major problem. However, there are still many property owners that are still unaware of the fact that bamboo is also an invasive plant that can grow out of control if it is not planted and managed properly.

Due to the easy availability of bamboo seeds on the internet and in garden centres throughout the UK, house owners are still unaware of the implications of planting bamboo and not regulating it. Often, this allows it to grow out of control and take over other plants and vegetation in a garden and even spread to other homeowners’ properties.

We have noticed a significant increase in inquiries from house owners who have mistakenly planted bamboo and allowed it to grow out of control. Our UK weed experts will determine the growth and advise you on the best control and removal techniques so that your garden won’t be taken over by weeds. Contact us today on 01269 591651 and we’ll arrange a no-obligation, cost-free site survey for you.

FAQs – Bamboo in Port Talbot

What is the UK’s legal status on bamboo?

In the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, bamboo is not classified as an invasive plant and it can be planted without restriction, but the weed control industry suggests that it can be as unpredictable as Japanese Knotweed with the same ability to spread rapidly and infest large areas of soil.

There have been a number of recent claims from homeowners seeking legal action against their neighbours for allowing their bamboo to spread out onto their properties. Different varieties of bamboo exist, and some are more invasive and destructive than others.

What are the types of Bamboo that exist?

With large underground roots and rhizomes, both the clumping and running types are difficult to manage and eradicate without invasive plant experts such as South Wales Japanese Knotweed.

The type of bamboo that spreads quickly over and below ground is known as running bamboo. It disperses long, lateral roots (rhizomes), which can often reach up to 30ft from the primary plant. Consequently, new shoots and growth develop in new areas or on other land or properties, causing disruption everywhere.

Because running bamboo has the ability to spread out so widely, it has been said to be more destructive than Japanese knotweed. The plant has similar abilities to exploit and force through broken or fractured brickwork, drains, walls, and outdoor patios, causing more damage as it thrives.

While clumping bamboo is less intrusive than running bamboo, it will quickly spread if left unchecked and unmanaged.

In order to contain it in the area you want it to, it’s best to plant it in containers or with sturdy root barrier systems in place in order to prevent it from spreading out, so you should always consult a specialist before planting.

How are clump-forming and running species different?

Clump-Forming Bamboo – The roots of this particular bamboo type spread out from the centre and never develop canes farther than 5-10 cm from the existing plant.

Running Bamboo – Their overground canes grow from horizontal underground stems and 60-80cm beyond the sowing site and the underground stem shoots up another cane, enabling it to spread quite quickly. Therefore, its roots should be contained by a root barrier system or in a suitable container to prevent them from spreading aggressively and colonising parts of the soil you do not want them to.

Clump-Forming Bamboo Types

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

Running Bamboo Types

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

What is its growth rate?

Various factors play a role, including the soil, air, water, and ground conditions of the local area. As bamboo is an extremely unpredictable plant you should take extreme care when planting it or buying a property that contains it.

In Summary:

Running Bamboo tends to grow to its full grown height extremely quickly and spread out aggressively. It can grow to 8 metres, while others only reach 1 metre, making it a huge unknown when you plant it or even have it on your property. To prevent them from spreading, their roots must be contained because their brand new canes grow 90cm to 1.5 metres taller each year until they reach their maximum height.

As a result of its modest culms, clump-forming bamboo grows very little higher than 5 metres high, but if not controlled, it can grow equally as wide. Each year, new canes of clump-forming plants can grow up to 30-45cm taller until they reach their maximum height.

Bamboo shoots are referred to as bamboo culms. Some varieties have solid culms, while others have hollow culms. Every culm segment has a solid joint at the beginning and end, called a node, and the internodes are the segments between them.

Is it invasive?

As with Japanese Knotweed, bamboo is remarkably invasive and will be invasive if not managed by an expert like South Wales Knotweed. Due to bamboo’s robust nature, it can grow in most soils and in extreme weather conditions.

In spite of its negative reputation for irresponsible planting, it can be a manageable and beautiful plant to have in your garden when planted with the appropriate control methods.

From its fast-growing roots, it spreads horizontally through the soil on its lateral buds, which steer up to form canes. Homeowners are usually surprised by how quickly running bamboo spreads when compared to clump-forming bamboo.

In what types of soil does it thrive?

The plant is extremely durable and doesn’t care what type of soil it is planted in. If grown correctly and managed properly, this may be beneficial.

Are bamboo trees, grasses, or wood?

Bamboo is actually known as grass, but the fast-growing invasive types resemble trees and are commonly referred to as bamboo trees. In only a few years, their stems can grow up to 8 metres in height, with stem diameters ranging from 1 mm to 30 cm.

Is it possible to grow Bamboo in garden pots?

The bamboo you grow in your garden should be grown in pots or containers according to their variety. You can prevent them from spreading and cultivating your property by growing them in a pot or container.

Is Bamboo capable of devaluing a property?

As a result of its exceptionally intrusive and unpredictable nature, bamboo is becoming more and more known in the property and mortgage industries as a plant that can decrease a property’s value.

Some mortgage companies may not lend on properties where there is bamboo, so always do your research before offering on a residential or commercial property or applying for a mortgage if you suspect there is Bamboo in Port Talbot there. South Wales Knotweed will do a free, no-obligation site survey for you and will identify bamboo, and advise you of the extent of its growth and the best management method. 

Can people and animals be poisoned by it?

Bamboo contains a toxin that produces cyanide in the gut of humans. In order to consume the shoots, the exteriors must be cut away and then boiled. However, there really is no reason for humans or animals to eat it and we highly recommend that you don’t.

How strong is it compared to wood?

The Janka Hardness Test, which categorizes lumber based on its hardness, indicates that it is 2-3 times harder than most hardwoods. In the universal Janka hardness test (named for Austrian-born emigrant Gabriel Janka, 1864-1932), a sample of wood is tested for its resistance to denting and wear.

In winter, does it still look green?

The majority of bamboo species are evergreen, so they remain green and vibrant even in cold weather when most other plants die back, and this makes them extremely attractive to homeowners who don’t realize how invasive they are. It is possible for them to shed a few leaves throughout the year, but it is not a significant amount.

The Property Care Association Summary

Bamboos are a woody grass that has commercial significance in their native habitat, according to Dr Peter Fitzsimons of the Property Care Association. According to him, in the UK the plant has characteristics similar to those of an “alien invasive species”. Some of those characteristics include being fast-spreading, dominating native vegetation and being insusceptible to natural predators such as pests 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.”.

How does the Property Care Association work?

They are a leading trade association representing professionals who can be relied upon to fix problems affecting buildings and property in general, the Property Care Association (PCA) was founded in 1992.

What the PCA say about their specialists

For homeowners and businesses, we provide professional and trustworthy site surveys and investigations that deliver peace of mind through detailed investigation and accurate diagnosis.

Our surveyors and inspectors are trained, experienced, vetted, and qualified.

By using skilled experienced site operatives, our members carry out highly specialized reports, repairs, and treatments efficiently, effectively, and safely.

We require our PCA members to meet and maintain robust membership criteria. Among the aspects of services covered are professional qualifications, technical competence, service delivery, and financial stability.

Services We Offer – Management & Control Of Bamboo

If you’re looking for privacy in your garden, bamboo is a wonderful plant to use since it contributes to the natural environment and is aesthetically pleasing too. If you’re looking for privacy in your garden, bamboo is a wonderful plant to use since it contributes to the natural environment and is aesthetically pleasing. However, it will spread out underground and grow swiftly above ground, taking control of the other plants and vegetation in a garden if not controlled.

It is very similar to growing Japanese Knotweed in your back garden, although it is not yet illegal. While Japanese Knotweed is well known by homeowners as an invasive weed, Bamboo seeds and plants are still widely available in the UK, however, they possess the exact same invasive characteristics as Knotweed and will quickly take over an area if not controlled.

We have seen first-hand how unpleasant Bamboo Port Talbot can be and we have helped many homeowners who were unaware of its unpredictable and harmful attributes when they first planted it or moved into their house.

Bamboo is typically grown along borders or around structures to create privacy in residential areas. During the last couple of years, our experts have seen many awkward and preventable conflicts with neighbours when this has spread out of control.

Bamboo is not yet listed as an invasive weed, like Japanese Knotweed, but greater understanding and concern are needed for this plant. In the UK, there are about 30 varying varieties, with more than 100 species and types.

Guide to the different Bamboo Port Talbot rhizomes (roots):

Runners – they spread quickly and laterally.

Clumpers – if not properly managed and managed, they will continue to grow, but they will not colonize as much soil as running species.

It is a fast-growing plant that will quickly colonize new soil, and in doing so, it will consume open spaces and can cause considerable damage to many types of structures.

As they are not as brittle as Japanese Knotweed, the rhizomes are challenging to remove if you are not an expert. It is like trying to take out a rope from a solid lump of concrete after its rhizome has established itself within the ground or amongst solid construction.

When it comes to bamboo Port Talbot removal and control, South Wales Knotweed offers a variety of solutions. Our professionals will quickly assess your property and site to determine the most effective eradication and control methods.

To remove most of the bamboo’s rhizomes, our experts normally use an excavator. As an additional service, we can install a root barrier system to prevent the rhizome from spreading. Our experts will provide you with a solution to control and manage the bamboo so that it does not spread into the soil and areas you don’t want it to.

For a free, no-obligation site survey, contact us today at 01269 591651 if you suspect a bamboo invasion or are concerned about Bamboo Port Talbot. Depending on the needs and properties of your residential or commercial property, our experts will provide you with different solutions to remove or control the bamboo.