The only plant that could make someone act this fanatical is a plant called running bamboo. In this woman’s trial, bamboo was the culprit, and she wanted the plant (and her neighbors who had planted it) to pay for their crimes against her and the rest of society. I don’t know how the trial is going, since she hasn’t called back (yet), but the campaign against running bamboo wages on across the country.
Photo: Running Bamboo spreading along the Peconic River, Calverton
A type of grass, running bamboos in the genus Phyllostachys are highly invasive when planted in the garden. Originally from Asia, running bamboos were brought into the United States in the 1800s as ornamentals. You have to admit, they do make an eye-catching, living screen, (dense enough to block out those fanatical neighbors), and look stunning in Japanese-inspired gardens. They grow amazingly fast with no fertilizer, aren’t picky about water, are evergreen, and have no major pest issues. In warmer climates, certain species of running bamboo grow so thick that their canes are used for “eco-friendly” flooring and wood products. There are even national plant societies like the American Bamboo Society dedicated to promoting the beauty and utility of bamboo. Heck, even pandas love bamboo!
Photo: Yellow Groove Bamboo (Phyllostachys aureosulcata)
Photo: Golden Bamboo (Phyllostachys aurea)
But there are also a lot of reasons to hate bamboo. Not all bamboo, just the running bamboos, most notably Golden Bamboo (Phyllostachys aurea) and Yellow Groove Bamboo (Phyllostachys aureosulcata). Running bamboos spread by a dense system of rhizomes, or underground stems, and in no time at all, they can overtake your yard and as well as your neighbor’s yard. Running bamboos grow rampantly and can send up new shoots 20-30 feet away. An impenetrable stand of bamboo canes, known as culms, will prevent the growth of other plants and make maneuvering about your garden difficult. Furthermore, running bamboos can be very destructive, having the ability to penetrate house foundations and pools.
Because of their dense system of rhizomes, removing, or even controlling, running bamboos is extremely difficult. Cutting down all the culms will do you no good – new ones will spring up from the rhizomes almost as fast. Instead, to control the spread of an existing running bamboo, you would need to install a commercial rhizome barrier approximately 36 inches deep into the ground. These barriers are very costly to install and can degrade over time, making them ineffective. If you wanted to eradicate a stand, you would need to hire a landscape professional who is certified to apply herbicides. A combination of cutting and multiple herbicide applications will wear out the vigor of the rhizomes, eventually killing the stand.
There are many other ornamental plants that can be installed instead of running bamboos. If you want an evergreen screen, consider planting other evergreens like White Pine (Pinus strobus) or Western Arborvitae (Thuja plicata). If you really do like the look of bamboo, you can plant noninvasive, clumping bamboos in the genus Fargesia. Clumping bamboos have all the ornamental attributes of running bamboos, but do not spread aggressively. They can reach 10-20 feet tall and are evergreen. Clumping bamboos form a beautiful vase shape, growing moderately from the original base, 4-10 inches per year. Unfortunately, clumping bamboos are not as available and may be more difficult to find in a garden center. Before purchasing a bamboo, be sure to check the scientific name on the plant label. You want the genus to read Fargesia and not Phyllostachys. Ask the garden center staff if you need any further clarification.
Photo: Evergreens such as White Pine (Pinus strobus) make a nice privacy screen, Commack
Don’t let running bamboo turn your yard into a nightmare, or you self into a crazy woman. Instead, choose clumping bamboos or other evergreens. Your sanity and your neighbors will thank you.
