Agriculture

Did You Know Bamboo Creates Disputes With Neighbors?

A picture of bamboo plants and roots

Introduced as ornamental plants, Japanese knotweed has increasingly been causing structural damage to buildings and roads. It can grow up to 10 cm each day and lay dormant underground for up to 20 years, emerging when disturbed. The only ways to control it is to dig it out of the ground without leaving any root fragments, burry it under at least 5 meters of earth, or apply a strong systemic herbicide every three months, for up to five years to kill off even the deepest roots. 

Bamboo, like Japanese knotweed, is also difficult to contain or remove. Its root systems can spread up to ten meters, going under walls, driveways, and roads, and even invade people’s homes, causing disputes between neighbors. 

DYK Bamboo Neighbors Thumbnail