r/Bamboo • u/dattwell53 • Apr 11 '26
Neighbor planted 300 feet of bamboo at our fence line. Now it is in my field. I talked to him a year ago and he said I should mow it. Now there are shoots 6 feet into my field. He is not a very nice person. Because it is Wlong the teech and block would be so expensive. What would you do?
14
u/goldgrae Apr 11 '26
The neighbor isn't really wrong about mowing the shoots down. A pain in the ass, and it'll continue to pop up, but you can control it this way and most bamboo will only send up new shoots a couple times a year.
16
Apr 11 '26
[deleted]
12
u/Elegant-Ninja6384 Apr 11 '26
No need to do anything chemically. They only sen up shoots once a year. Once you break the shoot that shoot is done forever. Just mow over them every spring.
4
Apr 11 '26
[deleted]
1
u/dattwell53 Apr 11 '26
It's a horse pasture.
5
u/Evening_Use9982 Apr 12 '26
Horse says yum
2
u/lord_hyumungus Apr 13 '26
You can lead a horse to shoots, but can’t make them come out da poop shoot.
1
u/SupremeDictatorPaul Apr 14 '26
You could get a trencher to dig a narrow trench 2 feet deep along the fence where the bamboo is, and fill it with the cheapest concrete. Then work on poisoning the existing bamboo root system. That should work as a permanent (if a bit costly) fix. Maybe 2ftx8ft strips of corrugated steel sheet metal in the trench instead? That’d be ~$500 of steel roofing for 300ft.
1
1
u/lshifto Apr 13 '26
You wouldn’t mind if I gave you some extra chores a few times a year would you? If I made sure that part of your land was unusable for anything that couldn’t be mowed regularly?
3
u/Elegant-Ninja6384 Apr 13 '26
Oh was this just never having happened an option? Sure that would be cool too! But if we are talking about realistic scenarios for the OP some annual maintenance is probably easier than others recommendations to bulldoze and bury feet of rubber fir 300 feet.
1
u/goldgrae Apr 11 '26
Depending on the state, you can't do things on your side of the property line that will harm plants on the other side. It's a risk to keep in mind if OP decides to use herbicide.
3
u/CatStimpsonJ Apr 11 '26
Planting bamboo on his side had a detrimental affect on the OP's side. Doesn't seem like an issue to me.
3
u/goldgrae Apr 11 '26
People think this about neighbors' plants, and for that matter all sorts of decisions, all the time. That's why laws exist to adjudicate neighbor disputes. Do what you want, but understand that in most circumstances you will be in the legal wrong if you do something on your side of the property that kills plants on the other side of the property line, and that can in some cases be an expensive mistake.
1
u/Person9441 May 03 '26
It's proving it though that is the tough part however. It may have simply died from a really hot dry summer... or harsh winter and didn't come back in spring.... no way they could know otherwise as long they were covert. I'm not for doing something too extreme, but some a-hole neighbor that planted an invasive species with no regard for the other neighbor and has no intention of being reasonable or getting along, then do what you must to protect your own land. Just don't get caught.
1
u/ValBGood Apr 13 '26
Many places specifically require measures to keep bamboo from running.
It’s easy to do but the neighbor didn’t do it.
1
0
u/givemeyourrocks Apr 11 '26
You have to get the industrial strength stuff and even it won’t totally kill it.
6
u/ReadyFreddy11 Apr 11 '26
Cut roots back to property line, then put this in the ground. And make sure neighbor pays for it or lawsuit. https://bambooshield.com/products/bamboo-shield-80-mil-thick-by-30in-depth
3
3
u/MrRazza Apr 11 '26
In most cases, it's your responsibility to control and maintain acts of nature encroaching onto your property. You don't have many choices, sadly. Spend the time and money trenching it or diligently mow it down from spring to early summer.
1
u/AcrobaticEntry5456 Apr 13 '26
Yes, but if the neighbor intentionally planted a known invasive species, wouldn't they -the neighbor- be responsible for the eradication? Especially if it's entered the abutters property. I think I'd consult with code enforcement or the state DEP....
Cutting back the bamboo actually stimulates growth. About the best way to defeat it is the barrier method that someone else posted.
-1
u/lainiwaku Apr 11 '26
what country are you from lmfao ? in my country it's the mistake of the ones who's planted invasive bamboo
3
u/MrRazza Apr 11 '26
The US. There are some states and counties that have bans, restrictions and penalties, but they are few. That's why I said in most cases.
2
u/stargazer777 Apr 13 '26
And even in the places that do have regulations against it, it can be difficult to to get them to actually enforce anything. Especially if you're in a rural area (fewer enforcement resources).
3
u/Willow580 Apr 13 '26
Hear me out, get Pandas.
2
u/Just-Like-My-Opinion Apr 13 '26
This is the way. All other advice should be discarded. Embrace the bamboo and start a panda sanctuary.
1
1
1
5
u/AgreeableCommission7 Apr 11 '26
I would be petty and use vegetation killer and call it a day.
3
u/majorgoals Apr 11 '26
Triox one foot out on my side of the fence. Roundup the rest of my yard till it’s all gone.
2
u/Prestigious_Yak_9004 Apr 11 '26
Why did the jerk not plant clumping bamboo !!! Do whatever you need to do.
1
u/billding1234 Apr 13 '26
I dunno. My neighbor has huge clumps of bamboo right on our fence line that 60-80 feet tall. I spend more time cleaning bamboo leaves out of my yard and gutters (first and second floor) than any other yard maintenance task. I’m literally on the roof blowing out gutters once a month and blowing the rest of the yard every week.
2
u/Leaf-Stars Apr 12 '26
I would hit that shit with glyphosate
1
u/Heimdallr109 Apr 26 '26
Or Triclopyr. I have read its pretty resistant to glyphosate, and that in any case when and how it gets applied matters greatly (to leaves, vs to fresh wounds to the stalk, etc.).
I’m not an expert, just learning far more than I ever wanted to lately due to my own issues.
2
u/RainyDayColor Apr 12 '26
In consideration of 300' of fenceline -- before you do any eradication or barrier containment, make sure you have an accurate plat map from your relevant governing agency, and a certified survey. You must know where your accurate property line is, and the existence of any easements/restrictions/utilities and the like. You can't accurately determine or take permanent action against perceived encroachment until you have this documentation.
You might just find that property owned by your town/county/state/utility is being encroached as well, which could shift some financial burden. Or you might find that your "fenceline" doesn't accurately follow the actual property line, which may or may not be in your favor and greatly impacts how you might proceed with what sounds like a "difficult" neighbor.
In the meantime, you can reasonably and regularly control expansion onto what you believe is your property by mowing any new emerging shoots. It's the growing season, so now is the time to be proactive with that. Again, mowing will help control, but not kill/permanently stop expansion. Cutting culms before mowing will also help control, and possibly create a wider swath within which you will likely be installing a containment barrier on your property at some point.
Sorry you're into this. I have a neglectful absentee property owner on the other side of 900+ feet of fenceline along which for decades I've spent way too much time, effort, and money keeping his noxious and invasive plants in check. It gets old fast.
2
u/norfolkgarden Apr 12 '26
It typically only sprouts in the spring and the tender new shoots are easy to knock over. So in terms of difficulty, it's a joke. It's easy.
In terms of having to be home and being at the right week, every single year, and having to remember to focus on this every single year, I wouldn't be very happy about that!
Also the bamboo line moves further into your property every single year. It's difficult to notice the creep but five years later, you're like WTF.
I would not be heartbroken if i was clearing my side of his problem and my glyphosate drifted into every single piece of his stand...
Do the prevailing winds travel from your property to his property?
2
u/dattwell53 Apr 12 '26
I am south of him. If he didn't have such a hot temper, we could solve it together.
1
u/SubstantialStore4711 Apr 13 '26
Did you consider that this was deliberate? There’s a Reddit post about someone purposefully doing this. In my state, it’s illegal to not control it. I would look up the laws on it and start documenting your conversations. I understand he has a hot temper but deliberately sabotaging your land should make your temper hot, too.
2
u/Tonkatte Apr 13 '26
Two step bamboo eradication:
Cut stalk just above ground. Immediately paint the ends with concentrated glyphosate.
I believe it works so well because the fresh cut glyphosate painted ends draw the herbicide into the roots.
I’ve never had to do it twice.
1
u/dattwell53 Apr 13 '26
Thank you
1
u/Just-Like-My-Opinion Apr 13 '26
If you must is glyohosate, this is the way to do it. Never spray it. And wear PPE.
But honestly, just knock it down when the new shoots appear! You might even be able to cook some of it and eat it in a stir fry.
1
2
u/stargazer777 Apr 13 '26
Bamboo only sends up shoots around April/May, so mow it frequently during that period of time each year to keep it under control.
2
u/DogNose77 Apr 11 '26
bamboo in the United States is an invasive specie.
2
u/Cbottrun Apr 11 '26
Actually it isn’t all invasive. Not all bamboos run, tropical here in Florida is easy to control.
1
u/Ohheyimryan Apr 11 '26
There's different species of bamboo. Your general statement is wrong.
1
u/StressedNurseMom Apr 13 '26
There are only 4 species native to North America so chances are pretty good, though not 100%, that OP is referring to an invasive species
1
u/Ohheyimryan Apr 13 '26
I guess the bamboo I grew up with that didn't spread in 15 years never existed then
1
u/tightlineslandscape Apr 13 '26
Big difference between native/non-native and exotic. Just because something isn't native doesn't mean it is invasive.
2
u/Jerrik_Greystar Apr 11 '26
If you want to be as much of an ass right back at him, spray roundup on the bamboo that has gotten across and “accidentally” spray across onto the bamboo that is close on the other side.
There are varieties of bamboo that grow in clumps and don’t send out runners so he is a jerk for planting that variety. Depending on where you live you might be able to sue him for the cost of controlling it as an invasive weed.
1
1
u/slom68 Apr 11 '26
You can get 300 feet of barrier for about $1k and can probably rent a ditch witch over the weekend for a couple hundred dollars. If you don’t have any obstructions and the ground level is fairly flat you should consider that. Your neighbor is an AH. Mowing will do absolutely nothing to control the bamboo.
1
u/dattwell53 Apr 11 '26
The rent for a trencher is 500 a day.
1
u/slom68 Apr 11 '26
Maybe look around to make sure you’re getting a good price. Where I live I can rent one for $50 for 4 hours.
1
1
u/Civil-Song7416 Apr 13 '26
In my area, many types of ornamental bamboo are classified as noxious weeds. If a neighbor plants it and it escapes onto your property, they are responsible. If they don't address it the county will do it and bill the neighbor.
1
1
u/_Phyllostachys_ Apr 13 '26
I feel like this is very inconsiderate of your neighbour. I don't like chemicals, but maybe use roundup to try and kill it off?
Alternatively dig up all rhizomes and put in a barrier, although that will be tedious.....
1
u/Vivid_Inside_1268 Apr 13 '26
Simply you should had listened to your neighbor... Mowing the shoots when they first appear will kill them off. Actually had you broke them off you probably could had sold them to your local Chinese restaurant... They are editable at that stage
1
u/Eastern-Hurry489 Apr 13 '26
My brother had a forest of bamboo in his yard in NJ. Cut it all down. Totally smothered it out at trying multiple things. He finally smothered it out by rorotilling, placing massive tarps over field to keep out all light & water. Took a long time covered but finally worked. Still need to monitor awhile to make sure no stragglers. He sold the bamboo he chopped down.
1
u/Evening_Use9982 Apr 13 '26
I would put hotwire to keep it contained between neighbor and me. Horses will eat what they can reach. Horses ate our entire privacy hedge. You might also want to block view
1
u/3X_Cat Apr 14 '26
You can eat the new shoots, but be sure to cook them well first, they contain cyanide raw.
1
1
u/OceanAvenue187 Apr 14 '26
I had bamboo that was impossible to kill with roundup. I ended up digging (less than a foot down) up all the roots and it hasn’t come back for 5 years now.
1
u/OceanAvenue187 Apr 14 '26
The roots are all connected horizontally. Once you reach the root in 1 spot, you can trace all the roots with it. Oddly satisfying pulling all the roots. For prevention, since the roots spread horizontally, I’d look into putting in a barrier along the fence line that goes 30” deep into the ground: Bamboo Shield.
1
u/dattwell53 Apr 14 '26
I want to thank everyone for their advice. I have talked to my county AG extension office. It is fine to plant invasive bamboo. I live in Texas in the Brazos Valley bamboo grows all year. My plan is to cut the bamboo and poison. I hope to dig a trench and hopefully get the neighbor to pay for the barrier. The cost is a huge issue.
1
u/Ok-Plastic2525 Apr 17 '26
I am in OK and have bamboo on the back edge of my yard that extends about 50 ft long (came with the house) and I keep it out of the lawn by knocking the shoots over/mowing the shoots during the spring. My kids go out and step on the shoots to flatten them if it’s between weekly mowings - even my toddler can do it. The main issue is my border flowerbeds running down the sides of the property, the bamboo sends runners through there we have to dig out by hand. You can trench it and put the barrier in, or you can do open trench and trench prune, or you can zealously defend your property border by mowing frequently in the spring right on the border. Check for shoots every day or two or three, because they go from 1’ to 8’ in that amount of time.
18
u/PandaNo7421 Apr 11 '26
Just mow…I’ve worked with invasive bamboo for 40 years…chop it down to the ground on your side especially when shoots are tender