‘Avoid it at all costs’ warn experts as ‘Japanese knotweed 2.0’ destroys people’s homes – here’s how to get rid of it
EXPERTS have issued a warning over a noughties gardening trend that’s destroying people’s homes and can cost up to £100,000 of damage.
Bamboo is an increasingly popular plant to grow as it takes little effort to look after, but left to its own devices it can soon overgrow, destroying other plants and even your home.
Emily Grant, director of operations at UK-based invasive plant specialist Environet, said: “This is Japanese knotweed 2.0.
“I think 15 years ago, every week gardening programmes were showing people putting bamboo in, it was literally everywhere.
“The extent of its popularity is very evident now. It was the ‘thing’ 15 years ago. But it can quickly get out of control.”
One homeowner who knows this all too well is Isobel Chetwood, who claims her neighbour’s bamboo has ruined her garden and the damages will cost £10,000 to fix.
Isobel hadn’t realised the property next door to her in Cheshire had planted the bamboo.
Known for being the fastest growing plant, it wildly sprouted and took over several nearby gardens.
Shoots started appearing in flower beds Isobel had created for strawberry planting.
Starting to deal with the problem by hacking away at the shoots, the pensioner soon found she was fighting a losing battle.
And when she told the landlord of the neighbouring home, he treated the bamboo with weed killer in a bid to stop it from being out of control.
However, the product actually triggered the bamboo and made it grow quicker.
Isobel then had no other option but to seek professional help.
She told CheshireLive: “I commissioned Environet to carry out a survey of the infestation and sent it to the landlord; I think that’s when he realised we needed professional help.
“Fortunately, his landlord’s insurance covered the cost of excavating the bamboo on my side of the fence, but he had to pay for the removal on his side since it had been deliberately planted by tenants.”
She is now advising everyone to avoid buying and planting bamboo since the problem could leave you thousands of pounds out of pocket.
A mechanical digger was needed to cut the bamboo out from the roots.
Part of the patio also had to be dug up after its runners embedded underneath.
Bamboo is removed by excavating the root ball from the ground and getting rid of each planet stem.
It can cost upwards of £3,500 to undergo the process.
I would urge anyone considering planting bamboo to think twice, and if you already have it growing in your garden, take action now to ensure it’s properly contained
Nic Seal
In one expensive case in 2022, a bamboo infestation came through the concrete floor of a property in Hampshire.
The roots travelled across the boundary and under the property next door before breaking through the concrete ground floor.
It continued to grow through the cavity walls of the property and could have forced the walls apart if it had not been treated.
The ground floor of the property had to be dug up and hundreds of metres of bamboo rhizomes removed.
The home insurance claim due to the damage was reportedly more than £100,000, according to the Express.
In a YouGov survey last year of 2,000 people, it was found that almost a fifth (18 per cent) of British adults have had bamboo on their own or an adjacent property.
However, only 24 per cent of people would be concerned if it was growing near their home, despite the threat of damage.
How to get rid of invasive bamboo
IF you have a bamboo that has got out of hand, you may wish to eradicate it completely.
RHS recommends two methods of removal:
Cultural control
Non-chemical methods involve digging out clumps of bamboo and restricting the size.
This can be difficult with very large plants, or on heavy soil. Use a sharp spade to dig up the entire clump or to remove sections from the edge of the clump that have grown beyond the limits. Sever rhizomes as you go, lifting and removing them with a fork or trowel.
Weedkiller control
When invasive plants are a threat to biodiversity and gardeners struggle to control them with cultural methods, targeted use of regulated weedkillers may be an option.
Garden centres and large retailers selling weedkillers have trained staff who can advise on suitable products for your needs.
Bamboo roots can travel more than 10 metres and can push through bricks, drains, cavity walls, patios and will target weaknesses or cracks in concrete, in a similar way to the dreaded Japanese Knotweed.
Nic Seal, founder and MD of Environet UK, said: “The truth is, most bamboos are invasive if planted directly into the ground and left to their own devices.
“It’s unfortunate that bamboo is still sold at garden centres and plant nurseries around the country with little warning about the risks.
“I would urge anyone considering planting bamboo to think twice, and if you already have it growing in your garden, take action now to ensure it’s properly contained.”
The Most Invasive Plants in the UK
Several non-native species have been introduced to the UK over the years. These are the most problematic plants to look out for in your garden.
Japanese Knotweed
It is an offence against the 1981 Wildlife & Countryside Act to grow Japanese Knotweed.
It might not be poisonous, it is extremely fast-growing and can seriously damage buildings, paving and structures.
Giant Hogweed
It might look rather attractive, but Giant Hogweed can be pretty dangerous.
The plant’s sap is toxic and can cause burns or blisters if it comes into contact with the skin.
Himalayan Balsam
Himalayan Balsam is another plant you need to keep your eyes on.
It produces an array of pretty pink flowers, but one plant is said to be able to spread 2,500 seeds, that are “launched” over a distance of seven metres.
And like other invasive plants, Himalayan Balsam wipes out other plants, growing up to three metres high, drawing out sunlight for smaller plants.
New Zealand Pigmyweed
New Zealand Pigmyweed is an aquatic plant that can cause havoc in still water, such as lakes and ponds or even slow moving water, such as canals.
It also impacts animals, such as frogs, fish and newts, as it can form a dense mat on the water’s surface, therefore starving the water of oxygen.
Rhododendron
An incredibly beautiful plant, loved my many gardeners, but the Rhododendron is technically classed as an invasive specie due to its rapid growth in woodlands.
Unlike other invasive species mentioned on this list, it’s not recommended to completely remove or kill Rhododendrons but instead take extra care to manage their growth, trimming and pruning them regularly.