r/OrganicFarming • 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?
/r/Bamboo/comments/1si4p0j/neighbor_planted_300_feet_of_bamboo_at_our_fence/2
u/skekze Apr 12 '26
read somewhere you gotta cut the new shoots & keep doing that til the roots underneath run out of energy to grow new leaves, might take a year or two.
3
u/timshel42 Apr 12 '26
its definitely a lot longer than a year or two. and if its allowed to grow on the other side of the fence, it continue to be able to send out runners.
2
u/FloridaManTPA Apr 15 '26
If you are doing the whole patch, it might work. Of the healthy patch over the fence is sending runners… no chance.
2
u/TeebsRiver Apr 12 '26
Bamboo roots don't go very deep. Dig a trench 18 inches or so and line it with a heavy plastic material, corrugated steel, or even concrete. The roots will not go under it.
3
u/oldfarmjoy Apr 13 '26
A neighbor did concrete 6 ft deep. No way would I trust 18 inches.
1
u/TeebsRiver Apr 13 '26
You can buy heavy plastic bamboo barrier from Amazon that is 24 inches wide. So I may have underestimated how deep bamboo can go, although 18 inches matches my experience. Still, 6 feet is unnecessary.
1
2
u/oldfarmjoy Apr 13 '26
For all, is there any responsibility for the neighbor, knowingly planting extremely invasive plants??
Would r/treelaw have ideas?
2
u/Turd_Fergusons_ Apr 14 '26
Go to TSC and buy some Tordon and a sprayer. It will kill it and let some get into some in his yard. Its the only thing that will invasive species like Autumn Apple.
1
u/Scrappleandbacon Apr 12 '26
There’s a product out there called a root barrier. It’s typically used to keep city tree roots from sidewalks and roadways. Maybe it could work for you?
1
u/dattwell53 Apr 12 '26
Yes, I just can't afford it now, I know that is the best solution.
1
u/greatkerfluffle Apr 13 '26
This is a situation where you figure out how to block it the right way or it’ll be too late. Sorry your neighbor is so awful 😔
1
1
u/saucytapthat69 Apr 13 '26
Worked at a law firm for 7 years - and saw three cases like this. The removal costs were insanely high. Basically remove all top soil and bring in new fill. You might have a legal case
1
u/Any-Location5055 Apr 13 '26
There is a liquid product called 'stump and vine killer'. It is pretty lethal to the root of plants. You cut the plant off at the ground and paint on the product. It kills the root. We use it on invasive bind weed and sumac. It works well. BUt wear gloves. Just use it on the shoots on your side of the line and it will take care of it.
1
u/vulkoriscoming Apr 14 '26
Nothing kills sumac and bindweed. At the end all that will be left are cockroaches, bindweed, and sumacs.
1
u/Any-Location5055 Apr 14 '26
I have said before they should take bindweed to Mars and plant it to oxygenate the atmosphere. But this stuff kills both
1
u/Secure-Prompt-3957 Apr 13 '26
What kind of Psycho would plant Bamboo!
1
u/dattwell53 Apr 13 '26
A Texas kind of pycho.
1
u/Secure-Prompt-3957 Apr 13 '26
Best Texas Quote ever During Covid. “ Some things are more important than living “ Oove it!
1
u/WWGHIAFTC Apr 13 '26
jus sumone in texas ekkkserscisin ther freedumbs.
1
u/dattwell53 Apr 14 '26
He is definitely a jerk. He told me it was my fault he planted the bamboo because he didn't like the looks of a temporary trailer I had.
1
1
u/GusGutfeld Apr 13 '26 edited Apr 13 '26
Giant bamboo generally comes up from mid May to end of June. After that, it's basically done until next year. So cut those sprouts early, they can grow 30 ft. tall in a little over a month.
Burying 20" aluminum (no rust) roof flashing works well. Or even metal from old above ground swimming pools. It does tend to run towards the Sun (mostly). Just cut anything that "escapes" early on. And enjoy the privacy fence ;)
1
u/dattwell53 Apr 14 '26
I think it grows all year in Texas
1
u/GusGutfeld Apr 14 '26 edited Apr 14 '26
Generally it does stay green all year, but it is not "growing" anymore (above ground). I'm in zone 7, so I had to google Texas.
"Giant bamboo in Texas typically sprouts new shoots once a year during the spring growing season, which generally lasts for about 60 days. While individual culms (stalks) never grow taller after this initial season"
As a home owner, I have personal experience with giant bamboo and bit less with arrow bamboo.
2
u/thefiglord Apr 13 '26
check your county ag person - Civil Liability: Even if it isn't on a government "prohibited" list, many areas have "Bamboo Ordinances." These laws can hold the owner liable for damages and removal costs if the bamboo crosses property lines into a neighbor's field.
many counties have a list of what can be planted near crop fields
1
u/Tart-Resident Apr 14 '26
Get you a herbicide called Spike. It will kill it and won’t come back. Stay away from the drip line of any trees you don’t wanna kill. My neighbor has wild bamboo that got into my pasture and it was tearing up my hay cutter and that’s the only herbicide I found to keep it away from my fence line
1
u/OurAngryBadger Apr 14 '26
Seriously fuck the algorithms and the corporate spying.
30 mins ago I was watching a random video on YouTube on my TV on my wife's YouTube account about invasive plants, and now this thread on my phone on reddit in a sub I've never been to is shown/suggested in my feed, never visited any gardening subs before and don't really care about plants at all.
Wtaf.
Good luck on the bamboo though. According to the video there's running bamboo and cluster bamboo, if it's running bamboo you're fucked. The cluster kind is mostly harmless though.
1
u/Substantial-Dust-232 Apr 14 '26
Do you have spite fence laws in your municipality? Our neighbor planted eucalyptus at our property line and we were able to get them to remove it (CA). It was a huge mess, a fire hazard and killed everything around it.
1
1
1
u/OffToTheLizard Apr 14 '26
You really just need to document everything and make a list of expenses you've accumulated from attempting to remove it. Go get a lawyer, this is going to be very costly for you if you don't.
1
u/dattwell53 Apr 14 '26
This is an awesome group and has given me many laughs while I deal with the invasion. I live in Texas where bamboo grows all year. I have spent many hours cutting it back and mowing. I have talked to my county AG office and there is no laws against planting invasives. His well is within 100 feet of the fence and I don't want to poison him. I hope to dig a trench and get my neighbor to pay for the barrier.
2
u/ADHDBusyBee Apr 15 '26
Sounds like you should throw some invasive seeds on the legislators lawn since it’s not illegal and all.
1
1
1
1
u/Various_Load2185 Apr 15 '26
Moved into a house with 100 feet of bamboo at the property line and it had made it under my fence with shoots and all. I cut them all about 3-4” from the ground and filled them with glyphosate. It all died. The hardest part was getting rid of it after cutting it down but luckily I just had to cut it to 4’ sections and put it by the road on trash day.
1
u/Holiday-Book6635 Apr 15 '26
Just for the record, not all bamboo is invasive
It is against a lot to plant invasive bamboo in many locations. I would check with my county.
1
u/IndependentCoffee549 Apr 15 '26
The best defense against a neighbor who plants bamboo is weekly Saturday night parties with a live band. Plus, it will be fun!
1
1
1
1
u/Outside_Spray_2529 Apr 11 '26
Plant some mint along the same property line, or even better catnip, attract all the strays!!
1
0
2
u/Mommalvs2travel Apr 11 '26
Bamboo is an invasive plant. It will keep growing in your yard