Can bamboo damage house foundations?

Hi,

Between my house an my neighbour there is a 1m x 11m passageway, which is full of bamboo.

Does anybody know if it can damage the foundations on my house? Some of the stems are so tight to the wall of my house, it's even difficult to cut them !

Thanks, Nick

 

Probably not the foundations, but certainly any drains or pipes

I recently replaced a 10' section of clay pipe that had been completely filled with bamboo roots from a bamboo 8' away. The bamboo plant itself was so large I had to winch it along the lawn on scaffold planks with my tirfor as I couldn't lift it!!!

Regardless id kill it off as that close its a risk.

 

Thanks Paul - any idea what would be good to kill it?

Apart from the side of my house, it's also spread through my Laylandi hedge and it sticking out of the top - it's a right pain because I end up having to chop it every couple of weeks. My fear is that it will end up spreading right through the whole hedge (about 10 m)

If there anything that will kill the bamboo but not other plans?

Nick

 

I dont know any easy answer, cutting it all down then spraying the new shoots carefully with roundup will help but will take time for this to work and need a few trys.

If poss id try and pickaxe or fork the worst of the roots up then the above.

 

That sounds like a bonus to me! (sorry, but I am a firm Leylandii hater). But I acknowledge bamboo can be a pain when it goes where it shouldn't. Still looks (and sounds, when the wind blows) beautiful.

 

Depends on how old your house is. If the foundations are concrete, then probably not. If they are brick and mortar, get rid of it as quick as you can.

As far as killing is concerned, you could try cutting down the stuff near the house and the going after the young shoots with a systemic weedkiller diluted by an extra 50%. It won't kill the stuff straigh away but it will work through its root system. Reapply every 6-8 weeks in the growing season and witha bit of luck you will kill the lot.

And save your "precious" leylandii.....