Bamboo plants problem - HELP!!

My next door neighbour's bamboo plant, i think, has rotted my fence which has subsequently fallen down. Can the bamboo roots cause this if they entwine themselves around the posts? Not too mention the fact that it has uplifted my patio slabs and gone up the side of my house!!

[ 20. January 2007, 11:01 AM: Message edited by: nickt ]

 

Oh my god! Sounds like a serious problem. The first thing would be to dig a trench at the fence, cutting through the roots and put in sheets of tin or some other strong barrier. This bamboo sounds so powerful it would probably break through horticultural membrane.
Then set about killing the bamboo on your side. I think chemicals are the only way to do this as the roots are under the patio, and it will probably need a good few applications. Hopefully the chemical will travel to all the root under the patio to kill it.
Maybe someone else have more advice for you.
Good luck
By the way - welcome to GC

 

Hi and thanks for your help. What i really want to know is if the bamboo can rot the fence posts therefore my neighbour will have to replace it, whereas at the moment the fence is my responsibility.
Thanks!

 

It likely could rot the fence. If it is growing thickly along the fence, water and damp can be trapped against the wood and the thicket of canes will prevent air circulation, the wood has no chance to dry out and rot can set in, especially if it is growing on both sides of the fence.

It wont be helped if the roots are also undermining it and pushing it over.

 

I'd ask the neighbour if you could go in and remove the nearest section to the fence, cutting well back from there, and putting down a very strong barrier, dug down deep, which would save the fence, with a bit of luck, and you shouldn't find it a problem any more.

 

I wouldn't have thought that bamboo could by itself cause your fence to rot
BUT .. you need to dig it out on your side as suggested

 

Sounds like you have a bamboo problem nickt but I dont think you can blame the plant for making your fence post rot, it could well have had the opposite effect in keeping the area a bit dryer than would otherwise be.
How long has the post been in the ground?

As for the invasion thats taken place, thats another matter and needs sorting out, and fast by the sounds of it.

 

Err no it won't rot the fence, no more or less than any other plant growing up against it. But if it is invading your garden you need to chop as close to the bounday as possible.You need to dig down a fair way and place a barrier between your garden and your neighbours otherwise it will continue to march onwards. I planted my bamboo on the boundary but becasue my neighbour is lower than I we have 2+ feet of concrete plinth which traps it my side. Many people plant in ignorance or are mislead my garden centres. Don't take it personally but certainly it is worth showing your neighbour the invasion and ask him to suggest a resolution. He/she may be willing to remove it completely but failing that it is going to cost you time and money to reinforce the bounday to prevent further damage.

 

bamboos are fast growing and spread fast i would not use chemeical incase you kill the whole plant. dont think your nabour would be to pleases. as said above take to your nabour and try get him to control the growth to keep it away from your side.