At first, Isobel Chetwood wasn’t aware that bamboo had been planted by the tenants in her neighbour’s garden, along the boundary with her property in Knutsford, Cheshire.

She soon became aware there was a problem when bamboo shoots began to appear in a raised bed she had designated for strawberry plants. Isobel began to cut down the new growth as it emerged, but it was a losing battle as the plant took hold.

Isobel said, “The bamboo shoots started appearing prolifically and I could see it was clearly coming from next door. My raised bed is constructed of brick and heavy wooden sleepers, which you’d think is fairly robust, but in no time at all the bamboo was forcing its way beneath the sleepers, pushing them apart.”

After Isobel approached the landlord of the property next door to alert him to the problem, he treated the infestation with weedkiller. But that only focused the plant’s energy on growing more vigorously in Isobel’s garden and new shoots began to emerge at an alarming rate.

“I commissioned Environet to carry out a survey of the infestation and sent it to the landlord; I think that’s when he realised we needed professional help. Fortunately, his landlord’s insurance covered the cost of excavating the bamboo on my side of the fence, but he had to pay for the removal on his side since it had been deliberately planted by tenants. I’d advise anyone thinking about planting bamboo to avoid it at all costs. It’s highly invasive and shouldn’t be sold at garden centres at all in my opinion, or at least not without a clear warning.”

Using a mechanical digger, Environet excavated enough bamboo root and rhizome to fill two entire skips, which involved digging up a patio to remove the extensive network of bamboo runners embedded underneath. Find out more about the work here.

Not too sure what to do if bamboo encroaches into your property? Find out here.