It took me seven years to get rid of invasive bamboo in my yard which was there when I moved in. It was a small patch, probably no more than 25 square feet, but it was invasive. Lots of hard labor, and I wrenched my back trying to get it out, not fun. Bamboo is a total deal breaker for me and I made sure the house I bought recently didn't have it.

There's no way I'd buy a house with as much as you are talking about. If you are in love with the house, at the very LEAST, I'd get a landscaper who specializes in bamboo removal to at least consult with you on it before buying. I would run!

I have bamboo, and now after 5 years, I find I only have to go out a whackin' about 5-6 times a year to cut them as short stalks. For me that is manageable.

Having said that, it is absolutely impossible to get rid of unless you feel like tearing up your yard and every other yard within a 200 yard radius. I would love to have my backyard redone (put in a brick patio rather than the paver stones I have), but I wonder if it will be destroyed within a year or two with bamboo trying to shoot up.

Someone once told me that planting bamboo is like inviting the devil into your garden. I thought she was freakish and nuts. I now live in a home where the prior owners planted bamboo and realized that freakish nut case was actually spot on. Live and learn.

OP, are you riding bamboo? Isn't this supposed to be in the explicit forum?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have bamboo and it is almost impossible to get rid of it. Even if you cut down the shoots that grow in the spring, it moves quickly underground, so you have no idea it is there. We put in a three foot heavy plastic barrier (we had someone install it) and that really contained it. It is nice that it is green all year, but it is a lot of work and our neighbors hate it as it always spreads into their yards.

Who did you use?

We used a landscaper, it was several years ago, but the barrier has contained the bamboo.

Anonymous wrote:Get a panda.

Easy peasy.

OMG - there must certainly only be one person who likes bamboo. In this whole entire tri-area community. Because I recognize their writing style. Really? Do you realize it is you that sounds crazy?

Anyone obsessed with anything (at all) is crazy and needs help. Most people realize this. If it bothers you so much, do not buy the house. Let someone who actually likes the bamboo buy it.

And yes, it will kill you in your sleep. If your neighbor doesn't, that is.

Burn it down! The neighbors house, too!

Does the wife have big boobs? Is she pretty? Do you find yourself stalking her? Are you gay? Is your husband?

Anonymous wrote:We have bamboo and it is almost impossible to get rid of it. Even if you cut down the shoots that grow in the spring, it moves quickly underground, so you have no idea it is there. We put in a three foot heavy plastic barrier (we had someone install it) and that really contained it. It is nice that it is green all year, but it is a lot of work and our neighbors hate it as it always spreads into their yards.

Who did you use?

Get a panda.

Anonymous wrote:NP here. It's impossible to get rid of and it's ugly, I wouldn't buy a yard with it as it would negate my attempts to have a nice garden.

Who knew there were such psychotic bamboo defenders on this site, you all are cracking me up!

I guess it's only one defender. Still funny, though!

NP here. It's impossible to get rid of and it's ugly, I wouldn't buy a yard with it as it would negate my attempts to have a nice garden.

Who knew there were such psychotic bamboo defenders on this site, you all are cracking me up!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would suggest poisoning public property or property that is not your own. In addition, you should really consider lighting it on fire, especially if it is on public property or property not your own. The authorities really, really favor that kind of behavior.

Bamboo spreads overnight and has been known to kill people in their sleep.

Is that what you want to hear, OP? Wow, give it up.

Um, really? I just want to know how seriously we should consider this issue if we're thinking of putting in an offer on a house for me and my family. Sorry to have ignited such wrath.

don't worry OP, that must be Crazy Bamboo poster, he/she posts every time people have questions concerning bamboo, usually attempting to sarcastically paint posters asking questions about bamboo or talking about their experiences with bamboo as crazy wackos on drugs on an inreasonable personal war against bamboo....you can recognized the style. all other posters (in favor or against bamboo) simply write their opinions like resonable people

We have bamboo on the outer edge of our property behind the fence. It does form a pretty heavy, impenetrable hedge, but whoever said it doesn't spread is on crack. It's been two years and I see new shoots coming up two, three, five feet inside the fence, and if we did not cut it down every few weeks, it would have filled a much larger area by now. It does spread, and it is invasive. Anyone who tells you otherwise hasn't been in their house long enough, or has a special kind of bamboo.

Anonymous wrote:I would suggest poisoning public property or property that is not your own. In addition, you should really consider lighting it on fire, especially if it is on public property or property not your own. The authorities really, really favor that kind of behavior.

Bamboo spreads overnight and has been known to kill people in their sleep.

Is that what you want to hear, OP? Wow, give it up.

Um, really? I just want to know how seriously we should consider this issue if we're thinking of putting in an offer on a house for me and my family. Sorry to have ignited such wrath.