What You Need To Know About Bamboo in South Wales

Bamboo has already been gradually flourishing in appeal for a few UK property owners over the last ten years, nevertheless, unknown to many it is a vigorous and fast-growing plant that is really very challenging to contain and also manage. In the event that you have or believe you have Bamboo in South Wales then you ought to get suggestions from a specialist like South Wales Knotweed who will suggest to you your most ideal course of action in order to ensure it does not grow out of control.

Bamboo is known and adored for its attractive appearance and often its fast growth that provides personal privacy in overlooked gardens in urban areas, towns and suburbs and a lot of property owners plant it without comprehending its speedy growth and capability to spread out and consume other flora. People must be extremely cautious of growing it or taking on a residential or commercial property in which it occurs as it is now known that a few types of bamboo are certainly highly invasive and incredibly difficult to control.

Bamboo in South Wales – FAQs

Is Bamboo an illegal plant in the UK?

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

Certainly, there have been an increasing number of recent claims from homeowners who have taken legal proceedings against neighbours and residential or commercial properties around them in which their bamboo has been permitted to disperse onto their homes and become a major problem for them. There are actually various varieties of bamboo plants and some are more intrusive and destructive than others.

What types of Bamboo are there?

Both the clumping and running types, all have substantial underground root and rhizome systems, making them extremely hard to control and extract without working with an invasive plant specialist like South Wales Japanese Knotweed.

Running Bamboo is the variety that disperses very quickly over as well as below ground. It distributes very long, lateral rhizomes (root system), that may frequently reach up to 30ft from the main plant. This brings about the plant quickly spreading with fresh shoots and growth developing in new places or onto other land or property causing disruption everywhere.

Due to the distance running bamboo can spread out, it has been said that it can have the potential to be more destructive than Japanese knotweed and it has very similar capabilities in order to exploit and force through broken or cracked masonry, drains, walls and patios causing more damage as it grows.

Clumping Bamboo is understood as being less intrusive than running bamboo, nevertheless, if it is left unchecked and unmanaged it can spread and very quickly grow out of control.

If sowing bamboo you should always consult a specialist regarding the variety you choose, and also plant it in containers or with strong root barrier systems in place to contain it to the spot you want it for, which in turn will prevent the probability of it spreading out.

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

Clump-Forming Bamboo – This particular type of bamboo has a root mass much the same as ordinary ornamental grasses, spreading out from the centre and never sprouting canes beyond 5-10cm from the existing plant.

Running Bamboo – A running bamboo spreads by its horizontal underground stems from which overground canes then develop. This underground stem extends and shoots up another cane 60-80cm away from the first planting site allowing it to rapidly spread out. This is why a bamboo’s roots need to be held by a root barrier system or in a suitable pot to avoid it from spreading aggressively and colonizing large sections of the soil you don’t really want them within.

How quickly does Bamboo in South Wales grow?

This all depends on the variety of bamboo as well as the environmental elements of the location, soil, air, water and general ground conditions. Bamboo is known to be an extremely unpredictable plant which means you ought to take extreme care and recommendations from a specialist if growing it or investing in a property where it exists.

Typically, Running Bamboo usually tends to grow to its full-grown height incredibly quickly and spread out aggressively. Many can grow to 8 metres while others just reach 1 metre, turning it into a huge unknown when planting it, or 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 annually until they get to their utmost growing height.

Compared to Clump-forming bamboo tends to develop to less than 5 metres tall due to its modest culms but they may grow equally as wide in time if not effectively controlled. The new canes of clump-forming bamboos can easily mature to 30-45cm taller yearly up until it achieves their maximum height.

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

Is Bamboo in South Wales invasive?

Bamboo is highly invasive and like Japanese Knotweed, it expands by using its root system and will be invasive if not regulated by a professional like South Wales Knotweed. Bamboo is exceptionally robust meaning it really will grow in most soils and in extreme weather conditions.

Bamboo has now acquired a bad reputation for reckless planting since if planting along with the appropriate control methods in effect, it can be manageable.

Bamboo spreads from its fast-growing roots that drive horizontally through the soil with its lateral buds which then drive upwards to create the canes. Running bamboo will cover ground quicker than a clump-forming bamboo type and typically takes house owners unawares at how quickly it spreads out.

What types of ground does Bamboo flourish in?

Bamboo is exceptionally durable and not at all fussy when it comes to soil type. This may be a benefit if planted for the correct reasons and effectively regulated.

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

Very few people know that bamboo is grass, however, many of the fast-growing invasive bamboo types have a very tree-like appearance and so are often talked about as bamboo trees. Their stems may be anything from a few centimetres in height and as much as 8 metres within 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 South Wales at your home, it could be grown in flowerpots or containers depending on which type they are. Growing them in a pot or container will prevent them from spreading and cultivating your property.

Can Bamboo devalue a property?

Bamboo in South Wales is becoming a lot more well known in the property, mortgage and the UK invasive weed industry as a plant that can decrease the value of a property as a result of its particularly intrusive and unpredictable characteristic. A growing number of mortgage companies are now asking if bamboo exists at a property and some may possibly not lend on it so always do your research prior to offering on a residential or commercial property and making an application for a mortgage.

Is Bamboo poisonous to people?

When eaten, bamboo contains a poisonous substance that generates cyanide in the human stomach. The shoots can be edible, having said that, they require their exteriors cut away and afterwards be boiled before consuming them. We would definitely advise that human beings and animals DO NOT eat bamboo.

Is Bamboo stronger than timber?

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

Is Bamboo green in the wintertime?

Most types of bamboo are evergreen therefore they continue being green and vibrant throughout the winter months when the majority of other plants have died back and this has made them extremely appealing to property owners that do not realise their invasive growth. They can drop a few leaves in the course of the year but it isn’t a substantial amount.

The UK Invasive Weed Control Industry

The UK Invasive Weed Control Industry is being contacted increasingly more to eradicate and regulate bamboo where it has been planted at a residential or commercial property without realising just how it may more than likely take control of, or where it has actually spread from an adjoining property.

In summary, these experts have explained, that invasive bamboo is truly emerging as a significant problem for British homeowners who might not have realised its growth rate and its invasiveness if not proficiently regulated. In some cases, the ‘running’ bamboo varieties can extend as much as 30ft underground in addition to its considerable above-ground growth.

Some home mortgage lenders in the UK and The RICS (The Royal Insitute Of Chartered Surveyors) are actually exceptionally averse to lending on a property where Japanese Knotweed exists or has been present, and increasingly more, are now understanding that bamboo is also a huge problem but is still unrecognised by many property owners as an invasive weed that can easily grow out of control if not planted correctly and managed.

Where can you buy Bamboo seeds?

Bamboo seeds can still easily be bought online or even from garden centres throughout the UK and this is adding to the issue that homeowners are still unaware of the consequences of planting and not regulating it. This commonly results in it growing out of control and taking over the other plants and vegetation in a garden and perhaps even spreading to other house owners’ gardens and land.

Green Leaf Remediation have noticed a significant increase in the number of enquiries being received from anxious house owners who have sown bamboo and by mistake made it possible for the plant to grow out of control. Our UK weed specialists will ascertain the development and inform you of our best control and extraction procedures providing you with the assurance that it won’t take over your garden. Get in touch with us on 01269 591651 or 07531 142316 today and our experts can arrange a free, no-obligation site survey.

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 importance in their native home.

However, he said that in the UK the plant has attributes similar to those of an “alien invasive species”.

A few of those features include being fast-spreading, prevailing over natural vegetation and being resistant to natural predators, for instance, bugs or fungis.

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 professionals who can be trusted to fix issues having an effect on properties and residential or commercial property in general.

What the PCA say about their service providers

Professional trustworthy site surveys and investigations that deliver peace of mind through detailed investigation and correct diagnosis for house owners and businesses.

Services are provided by trained, experienced, vetted and qualified surveyors and inspectors.

Contractor members are able to complete highly specialised repairs and treatments, effectively, efficiently and safely, using skilled experienced site operatives.

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

Bamboo makes a positive contribution to the natural environment in addition to it being aesthetically pleasing and is a terrific plant to make use of if you are looking for privacy in an area. However, we advise extreme caution and our staff would not advise planting Bamboo in South Wales in a regular residential garden caused because of its invasive root growth. It will spread out underground as well as grow very 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, nonetheless, it isn’t yet unlawful to do so. Japanese Knotweed is well known by homeowners as being an invasive weed but Bamboo seeds and plants are still widely marketed throughout the UK however have the exact same invasive characteristics as Knotweed and will very quickly take over an area if not handled correctly.

South Wales Knotweed have seen how unpleasant Bamboo in South Wales is and we have helped numerous customers who were initially unaware of its destructive and unpredictable attributes whenever they first planted it, or whenever they initially brought it home to remove and control their bamboo infestation.

Bamboo in South Wales is often cultivated along boundaries in or about a structure to provide privacy to a property. Over the last few years, our experts have indeed observed exactly how this has led to numerous uncomfortable as well as preventable disputes with neighbours when the bamboo has expanded out of control onto their property.

Our belief is that while bamboo is not yet certified as an invasive weed as Japanese Knotweed is, greater understanding and concern for this plant is needed. There are over one hundred species of bamboo, with in excess of 30 or so varying varieties usually located in the UK.

The fundamental guide to the different bamboo rhizome (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 the planet and will quickly colonise new land, and in doing this, will rapidly consume open spaces and can cause substantial damage to many solid structures.

The rhizomes aren’t as brittle as their Japanese Knotweed equivalent, making them a demanding task to remove if you are not a professional. Once a bamboo rhizome has developed itself within the soil or between a solid structure, removing it is the same as trying to remove a rope from a solid slab of concrete.

South Wales Knotweed & Garden Services offer different removal and control solutions when it comes to bamboo. Each infestation will have its own hurdles and our experts are going to work out the best removal and control methods depending on your property and site.

In the majority of circumstances, our team use an excavator to take out the majority of the bamboo’s rhizome. Our team can also install a suitable ‘root barrier’ which helps prevent 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 areas you don’t want it to.

If you have an invasion of bamboo or are concerned you have Bamboo in South Wales contact us today on 01269 591651 or 07531 142316 to arrange a no-obligation site survey. Our bamboo experts will assess and supply you with different solutions based on your residential or commercial property and needs.