Negative Effects of Planting Bamboo

Invasiveness

• Bamboo is a rapidly growing and spreading plant. It grows by sending out roots in all directions, from which new shoots grow. This means bamboo can quickly outgrow where it was planted and spread across the yard or to neighboring yards.

Maintenance

• Bamboo requires maintenance to keep it from overgrowing. Its roots must be regularly cut back to prevent shoots from appearing in unwanted places. The area around a bamboo patch must be consistently dug into and underground roots severed and cut back. This requires consistent maintenance.

Sprinkler Systems

• Bamboo rapidly outgrows its confinement and spread across lawns if left unchecked. Its shoots and roots may puncture sprinkler systems or disrupt the angle of sprinkler heads. Ensure that bamboo is planted well away from any sprinkler systems, and the bamboo itself is irrigated through an above ground dripping system.

Damage to Pools and Retaining Walls

• Bamboo sends out horizontal roots called rhizomes. These rhizomes are little probes for the larger plant, seeking water and nutrients. Bamboo should not be planted near retaining walls, house foundations and pools, because rhizomes penetrate the structures and cause damage. Bamboo should be planted with a plastic dividing strip between it and any in-ground structures that could be damaged or kept in containers.