What You Should Be Aware – Bamboo in Bath

Bamboo has been continuously flourishing in popularity for some UK property owners in the previous 10 years, nonetheless, unknown to many it is an active and fast-growing grass that is really very challenging to contain and regulate. In the event that you have or even believe you have Bamboo in Bath at that point you ought to get advice from an expert such as Green Leaf Remediation who may suggest to you your best strategy to make sure that it does not grow out of control.

Bamboo is known and loved for its ornamental appearance and its quick growth provides privacy in overlooked gardens, and many property owners plant it without comprehending its fast growth and ability to spread and take over other vegetation. People must be extremely cautious of growing it or taking on a building where it occurs since it is now known that some types of bamboo are actually highly invasive and remarkably challenging to control.

The UK Invasive Weed Control Industry is being called on more and more to remove and control bamboo which has been cultivated at a residential or commercial property without knowing the way it will take control, or perhaps where it has spread from a neighbouring garden.

In conclusion, these experts have stated, that intrusive bamboo is transforming into a major issue for British property owners that might not have understood its growth speed and its invasiveness if not thoroughly controlled. In some cases, the ‘running’ bamboo varieties can extend up to 30ft below ground in addition to its significant above-ground growth.

A number of 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 is present or has been present, and a growing number of, are now understanding that bamboo is also a major problem but is still unrecognised by countless property owners as an invasive weed that may grow out of control if not planted correctly and managed.

Bamboo seeds can be easily obtained on the internet or even from garden centres throughout the UK and this is contributing to the issue that house owners are still uninformed in regard to the implications of cultivating and not managing it. This often results in it growing out of control and taking over the other flowers and vegetation in a garden and perhaps even spreading to other property owners’ gardens and land. People are now asking that the risks of bamboo are clearly stated on the seed packaging.

Green Leaf Remediation & Removal have noticed a large surge in the number of enquiries being received from anxious homeowners who have sown bamboo and inadvertently made it possible for the plant to grow out of control. Our UK weed professionals will assess the development and suggest our best and most effective control and eradication techniques providing you with the assurance that it will not take over your garden. Get in touch with us at 0117 321 7799 right away and we can arrange a cost-free, and no-obligation site survey.

Questions & Answers About Bamboo in Bath

Is Bamboo an illegal plant in the UK?

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

In the last few years, there have been more and more claims from homeowners who have taken legal action against neighbours and residential or commercial properties around them in which their bamboo has been allowed to expand onto their residential properties and become a serious issue for them. There are various varieties of bamboo plants and some are more invasive and destructive than others.

What Bamboo types are there?

Both the clumping and running types, possess huge underground root and rhizome systems, making them remarkably hard to control and extract without choosing an invasive plant specialist like South Wales Japanese Knotweed.

Running Bamboo is a variety that spreads very quickly over and also underground. It distributes long, lateral rhizomes (root system), which may sometimes reach up to 30ft from the main plant. This leads to the plant very quickly spreading with new shoots and growth developing in new areas or onto other land or property causing disruption all around.

Due to the distance running bamboo may spread out, it has been said that it can have the potential to become more destructive than Japanese knotweed and it has comparable capabilities in order to exploit and push through broken or fractured masonry, drains pipes, walls and outdoor patios causing more damage as it grows.

Clumping Bamboo is known as being less intrusive than running bamboo, nonetheless, if it is left unchecked and unmanaged it can easily spread and swiftly grow out of control.

If growing bamboo you should always check with a specialist about the variety you choose, and also plant it in containers or with solid root barrier systems in position in order to contain it to the area you want it for, which will help prevent the probability of it spreading.

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

Running Bamboo – A running bamboo spreads by its horizontal underground stems from which overground canes then grow. This underground stem extends and shoots up another cane 60-80cm beyond the initial planting site allowing it to quickly spread out. This is why a bamboo’s roots need to be contained by a root barrier system or in a suitable flowerpot to prevent it from spreading aggressively and colonising parts of the soil you do not want them within.

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

How fast does Bamboo in Bath grow?

This all depends upon the type of bamboo as well as the ecological factors of the area, soil, air, water and typical ground conditions. Bamboo is understood to be a highly unpredictable plant which means you need to take extreme care and recommendations from a specialist if growing it or buying a residential or commercial property where it exists.

Bamboo Type Summary

Running Bamboo usually tends to grow to its mature height remarkably quickly and spread aggressively. Many can grow up to 8 metres whilst others just make it to 1 metre, making it a huge unknown when planting it, or even if you already 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 highest growing height.

Clump-forming bamboo tends to grow to lower than 5 metres high due to its modest culms but they are able to grow equally as broad over time if not effectively regulated. The new canes of clump-forming bamboo can easily mature to 30-45cm taller annually up until it reaches its maximum height.

Bamboo Culm

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

Is Bamboo in Bath invasive?

Bamboo is extremely invasive and like Japanese Knotweed, it expands using its root system and will definitely be invasive unless controlled by a professional like Green Leaf Remediation. Bamboo is incredibly robust meaning it really will grow in most soils and in extreme climate conditions.

Bamboo has now obtained its negative reputation for irresponsible planting as if planting along with the correct control methods in place, it can be manageable. It 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 quicker than a clump-forming bamboo type and usually takes homeowners unawares at just how swiftly it spreads.

What varieties of ground does Bamboo in Bath do well in?

Bamboo is exceptionally hardy and not at all fussy when it comes to soil type. This may be an advantage if grown for the correct reasons and properly controlled.

Is Bamboo a wood, grass, plant or tree?

Very few people understand that bamboo is grass, however, a lot of the fast-growing invasive bamboo varieties have a remarkably tree-like appearance, therefore, are commonly described as bamboo trees. Their stems may be anything from a few centimetres in height and as much as 8 metres in only a few years, with their stem diameters varying anything from 1 mm to 30 cm.

Can you grow Bamboo in pots?

If you want to grow Bamboo in Bath at your home, it should be grown in strong pots or containers depending upon which type they are. Growing them in a pot or container will probably stop them from spreading out and cultivating your property.

Can Bamboo in Bath decrease the value of a property?

Bamboo in Bath is becoming much more known in the property, mortgage and the UK invasive weed industry as a plant that can decrease the value of a property due to its very invasive and unpredictable characteristics. A growing number of mortgage companies are now asking if bamboo exists at a property and some may not lend on it and so always do your research prior to offering on a property and applying for a mortgage.

Is Bamboo toxic to people?

When eaten, bamboo contains a toxic substance that generates cyanide in the human stomach. The shoots can be edible, however, they require their exteriors cut away then afterwards be boiled before consuming them. We would recommend that people and animals do not eat bamboo.

Is Bamboo sturdier than wood?

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) evaluates the resistance of a sample of wood to denting and wear.

Is Bamboo green in winter?

Most types of bamboo are evergreen so they continue being green and vibrant throughout the winter season when the majority of other plants have died back and this has made them incredibly appealing to homeowners who don’t understand their invasive growth. They may drop some leaves during the year but it isn’t a significant 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 bamboo are “woody” grass that has commercial significance in their native home.

However, he said that in the UK the plant has attributes similar to those of an “alien invasive species”. Some of those characteristics include being fast-spreading, prevailing over indigenous vegetation and being insusceptible to natural predators such as 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 depended on to resolve problems having an effect on structures and property in general.

What the PCA say about their specialists:

• • Professional trustworthy site surveys and investigations that deliver peace of mind through detailed investigation and correct diagnosis for homeowners and businesses.
  • Services are provided by trained, knowledgeable, 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 in Bath Management & Control Services

Bamboo makes a favourable contribution to the environment as well as it being visually pleasing and is a great plant to use if you are requiring privacy in an area. However, our team recommend extraordinary care and we would not advise growing Bamboo in Bath in a standard domestic garden due to its invasive root growth. It will spread below ground and grow swiftly above ground, taking over the other plants and vegetation in a garden.

Sowing Bamboo is very similar to planting Japanese Knotweed in your garden, having said that, it isn’t yet illegal to do so. Japanese Knotweed is well known by house owners as being an invasive weed but Bamboo seeds and plants are still widely marketed throughout the UK but have similar invasive characteristics as Knotweed and will swiftly take over an area if not handled appropriately.

Green Leaf Remediation have seen how intrusive Bamboo in Bath is and our team have now helped a lot of homeowners who were initially unaware of its destructive and unpredictable nature when they first planted it, or when they initially brought their home to get rid of and control their bamboo infestation. It is typically cultivated along borders in or about a structure to provide privacy to a property. Over the last few years, we have observed exactly how this has led to many uncomfortable and avoidable conflicts with neighbours when the bamboo has got out of control onto their land.

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

Guide to the different bamboo rhizomes (roots):

Runners – these will ‘run’, meaning, spread laterally and quickly.

Clumpers – these will continue to grow if not correctly regulated 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 ground, and in doing this, will quickly consume open spaces and can cause major damage to many solid structures.

The rhizomes aren’t as fragile as their Japanese Knotweed equivalent, making them a demanding task to get rid of if you are not an expert. Once a bamboo rhizome has developed itself within the soil or between a solid structure, taking it out is the same as trying to take out a rope from a solid block of concrete.

Green Leaf Remediation provides different removal and control solutions when it involves bamboo. Every single infestation will have its own challenges and our specialists will work out the most effective eradication and control methods depending on your property and site.

In the majority of scenarios, our experts make use of an excavator to remove the majority of the bamboo’s rhizome. We can install a suitable ‘root barrier’ which avoids the rhizome from continuing to spread out within your own and neighbouring residential properties. If you would like some of the bamboo to stay then our experts will offer you a control and management solution so it can remain without spreading out into areas you don’t want it to.

If you have an infestation of bamboo or are worried you have Bamboo in Bath contact us today at 0117 321 7799 to arrange your free and no-obligation site survey. Our bamboo specialists will assess and provide you with different solutions based on your property and needs.