How to identify bamboo
Bamboo is a woody plant in the grass family Poaceae, with tall, upright canes and long narrow leaves. Most bamboos have evergreen foliage with canes that come in shades including green, brown, yellow and black. Bamboo’s vigorous growth habit has made it a popular screening plant in gardens with some varieties reaching up to 5m high. There are also dwarf types which only grow to 30cm.
How bamboo causes problems
According to Kew Gardens, some species of bamboo can grow one metre in 24 hours. Although most species of bamboo will not grow that quickly, certain bamboo varieties can become a problem if they’re not contained. There are two main types of bamboo – running and clumping. Running bamboo spreads by rhizomes under the ground. New shoots can emerge several metres away from the main plant. This type of bamboo can cause damage to paving, growing up between the cracks, and spread into neighbouring properties. Clumping varieties tend to be less vigorous but can develop into large clumps if not managed.
Bamboo and the law
There’s no law restricting the growth of bamboo in gardens, but you may be held liable if bamboo in your garden invades a neighbouring property.
How to control bamboo
- Choose a clumping type of bamboo as these are easier to control than running types. You should see the description ‘clumping’ on the plant label or in the description online. Clumping types have short rhizomes which form more of a root ball, whereas running types have long rhizomes which spread further from the main plant
- When planting bamboo put in root barriers to contain it. You can buy purpose-made root barriers
- Plant bamboo in containers – for a large display of bamboo, try planting in long troughs and make sure pots are as deep as possible, at least 45cm
- For established bamboos that are outgrowing their spot, you can control them by digging a trench around the bamboo. It should be about 30cm deep and at least 30cm from the bamboo. Cut through any rhizomes in the trench and dig out any that have grown beyond the trench.
How to kill bamboo
The best way to get rid of bamboo is to dig it out. Make sure that you remove all the pieces of rhizome as bamboo can grow back from a tiny bit of root. First of all cut the canes down as these can be saved and dried for use in the garden. Then dig out the clump, removing all the roots.
Frequently asked questions
Can boiling water kill bamboo?
Boiling water can help kill bamboo shoots and roots that are near the surface, but using this method may not eradicate the whole plant. The water might not penetrate deep enough to kill all the roots. It will need repeated attempts on any new shoots that emerge. A more effective method is to dig out the plant (see above), or use boiling water to weaken the plant before digging it out.
