Planting Bamboo Is Terrible for Your Yard— Here’s Why

When it comes to fast-growing privacy screens, bamboo often tops the list. It can grow 15 to 30 feet tall and produces dense, attractive foliage within a single season. I have been tempted more than once to grow bamboo for privacy in my yard, but each time I resist because I know it can be incredibly difficult to stop bamboo spread.

Ahead, learn more about bamboo to decide if it’s a good idea for your yard with advice from two experienced gardeners: Joyce Corbett from Classic Courtyards and Spencer Campbell from The Morton Arboretum.

What To Know Before Planting Bamboo

Bamboo is a woody-stemmed plant with individual canes that sprout branches and leaves. It likes regular watering and is one of the fastest-growing plants, with some species capable of growing a foot a day until maturity.

There are over 1,400 species of bamboo, and all fall into two categories: clumping and running. Running bamboo grows very quickly, achieving heights of fifteen to 30-ft. in a single season. But it also spreads through fast-growing underground rhizomes that are particularly aggressive and hardy. “Running bamboo can spread 15 to 20 feet a year underground,” Campbell says. “It’s not just fast-growing, it’s relentless.” Clumping bamboo is slower growing and less aggressive than running bamboo, but generally does not grow as tall.

Is bamboo an invasive species?

Running bamboo is considered invasive in many parts of the country, as it quickly overtakes and displaces native species. The rhizomes are so aggressive that they can spread underneath sidewalks, driveways and even interstates, popping up on the other side and then continue to grow.

Corbett knows firsthand how invasive running bamboo can be. “It was in my yard when I bought the place, and I worked for years to get it under control,” she says. “It just takes over everything in its path.”

How To Stop Bamboo From Spreading

If you are still considering growing bamboo, here are some ways to stop bamboo from spreading.

Choose slow-growing bamboo

Rhizomes on clumping bamboo are not as long and grow more slowly, so they are easier to contain. “I would feel comfortable planting a clumping bamboo in my yard,” Campbell says. He recommends growing fargesia, a type of bamboo that “tends to stay in one place and don’t spread aggressively.”

Plant in a container

Consider planting clumping bamboo in a raised bed or large planter to keep rhizomes easily contained. Running bamboo will likely send rhizomes through drainage holes and into the soil, where they can quickly spread, so this method will have limited success with these species.

Add underground barriers

Install underground plastic barriers to contain rhizome growth. Many products designed exclusively for this purpose are available. “You’ll want to go at least two feet deep with a plastic barrier,” Campbell says, and install it in a closed loop around the plant. Again, this will be most effective with clumping varieties.

Regularly prune and manage rhizomes

Even in containers or inside barriers, spreading rhizomes requires regular management. Check for rhizomes periodically, dig them up and throw them in the trash. Do not put rhizomes in a compost pile. “Even a small piece will grow into a new plant,” Campbell says.

How To Get Rid of Bamboo in My Yard

Get rid of clumping bamboo by digging up the entire root system, including any rhizomes. Consider treating the remaining soil with boiling water or herbicides to kill any rhizome pieces that may have been left behind.

Running bamboo will be considerably more challenging to remove. “Persistence is the defining characteristic to any success in removing running bamboo,” Campbell says. He recommends cutting bamboo canes to the ground, then digging out as many underground rhizomes as you can, and any new shoots that emerge. Herbicides like glyphosate can also be effective. “After cutting it down, let it grow back until it’s four to six inches tall, so it is actively photosynthesizing,” Campbell says, then apply the herbicide.

Corbett found the most success by cutting each cane four to five inches from the ground, then immediately pouring Round-Up into each cane and spraying any new shoots as they came up. “It took years of vigilance bordering on obsession, but it did eventually pay off,” she says.

FAQ

Does bamboo ever stop growing?

Each individual stalk of bamboo will stop growing after about 60 days. However, it will continue to send off rhizomes, which will form new stalks.

About the Experts

• Spencer Campbell is Plant Clinic Manager at The Morton Arboretum in Lisle, Illinois, 25 miles west of Chicago.
• Joyce Corbett is the owner of Classic Courtyards in West Springfield, Massachusetts. She has over forty years of landscaping design and installation experience.