Re: bamboo
Barbara Sargent wrote:
>
> My neighbors have bamboo along their fence and, of course, it migrates to
> our side of the fence. For the 29 years we've lived here we've just kept
> cutting it down because we didn't want to do the arduous work of digging a
> trench and putting in the requisite metal barrier (15 inches down?) and
> couldn't afford to hire someone to do it.
>
> Well--now their bamboo has migrated from behind the fence toward the
> street, on their side, so that there's a clump along my front garden on
> their side of the fence. It's a disaster waiting to happen. Since the
> current owners aren't there and they're renting it to a lovely man who
> doesn't know what a plant is, I want to get in touch with them and advise
> them on what I want done.
>
> My question is, what is the best way they should proceed. Should they put
> the barrier on their side or on mine? Or will Roundup be of any help. I
> never use herbacides but in this case I might.
>
Barbara
If they are erecting the barrier, surely it should be their side of the
boundary. However, I must warn you that it is possible such a barrier
will not be effective as some sorts of bamboo are extremely aggressive.
I once actually saw one which had plunged under an asphalt-surfaced
tennis court and emerged on the other side. As this was all in one
garden it was dealt with by disposing of the entire clump.
Roundup would possibly help and if really effective might also kill most
of the neighbour's part of the clump at the same time, as it will be all
interconnected. However, I doubt it will be likely work on any but soft
newly-emerging shots, so your best bet would be to cut down the part on
your side and spray the new shoots just as they appear from the ground.
(I presume you are aware that bamboo is in effect simply a super-sized
grass?)
I honestly think the only really effective solution would be for the
entire clump to be removed. If they want to keep their bamboo, a portion
could without much difficulty be re-located to some other part of the
garden (well away from boundaries, one hopes).
Moira
--
Tony & Moira Ryan <theryans@xtra.co.nz>
Wainuiomata,
New Zealand (astride the "Ring of Fire" in the SW Pacific).
