Neighbours planted bamboo at our fence… but now moving away.

[ReginaaPhalangee]

As title suggests, our neighbours planted bamboo about 18 months ago. We are in a semi detached with a shared fence. It’s right at the fence, right up at the property. They are a nice couple, very quiet and keep themselves to themselves. They have totally transformed the garden from the previous owners and it’s full of beautiful plants, thus attracting beautiful birds etc.

they have recently sold the house and moving soon.

im worried about the bamboo. I’ve heard from friends who have had issues with it, and seeing more and more news articles how it is causing damage (the one where the couple had to demolish their conservatory due to the roots growing through it).

I know it will take years for it to cause major damage but I’d rather nip this in the bud now before It gets to that stage.

I don’t like confrontation or these types of conversations but I know I need to. I want to ask them to pull it up before they move as, now this may sound petty, I’d rather have the issue with these neighbours lol rather than new ones who move in and live there for potentially years..

how do we handle this? I’ll upload some pics that aren’t identifying to show where it is to the house etc.

Photos or current height and proximity to fence and house

I’d broach it now.

Is it in pots? Bit daft to plant it in the ground.

Have the new buyers done a survey yet? Bamboo would be picked up by that so you could suggest it be removed before then so it's not a problem.

Just ask them. Maybe offer to split the cost if it really concerna you.

They will have to declare any disputes with neighbours, so it will be in their interest to get it sorted. The new occupants will have no incentive to get rid of it.

Insist they get rid of it NOW. Notify the council, kick up fuss. In ten years it will have destroyed your foundations. Don’t wait.

No idea if in pots or ground, I’m thinking ground as they said feel free for us to cut it if it pokes through the fence.

no idea if they have done a survey

There's different types of bamboo, you could ask if they planted the clumping type 🤞 and it depends what they've planted it in.

Look over the fence! I’ve got bamboo but it’s in pots.

Away for a peek lol

It’s in a planter with bark top layer. No idea what the base of the planter is like..

I managed to peek through a gap in the fence.

The clumping kind can be fine in the ground.

Exactly it’s the running kind Thats a problem. Bamboo on a pot is perfectly fine and not worth worrying about. .

@ReginaaPhalangee As it's in a planter, ask them if they'd sell it to you then destroy it once you've bought it?????

I just don’t know what type it is. One way to find out… I’ll ask when I next see them.

It will come up on their survey with a big red flag. Indeed, it might even come up on the survey of someone wanting to buy YOUR house. Even if you have to pay, I would insist on this being removed.

I don't need pictures. Definitely ask them, I'd offer to help (or just do it myself if they were happy to give me access).

better to ask them than wait until new people move in!!

That's what happens when you assume an OP woukd have checked if it was in the ground or in pots before posting 🤣🤣

just ask them to take it with them!

Excuse me?

If it’s contained in a planter then what is the issue?

Because if it’s like mine and doesn’t have a base, then the problem is the roots potentially spreading…..

Jesus, calm down! Notify the council? Wtf? What do you think the council are going to do about a plant in a private garden?

Yes, certain types of bamboo can be invasive. The OP should ask her neighbours what type it is and if necessary, ask them to get it removed before they leave or offer to pay to have it removed.

We had bamboo in our garden which was planted about 10 years ago in a renovation and we noticed it was starting to invade other areas so we pulled it all out.

But that would only be a problem if it's running bamboo.

And as I have mentioned upthread, I do not know what type it is. It’s a conversation I will need to muster the conversation up, to have.

Exactly. If the neighbours are keen gardeners and knowledgeable about plants, as the OP says, it’s pretty unlikely they planted running bamboo in the ground in a small suburban semi-garden. Talk to them before panicking, OP.