New research by Environet UK has revealed that bamboo is still popular with homeowners and gardeners who may not realise the danger it can pose to property. According to the numbers, 29% of those surveyed indicated that they would avoid planting bamboo because of its invasive nature, suggesting that most people are blissfully unaware of the risks.
Japanese knotweed may strike fear into the hearts of homeowners, but due to the greater distances its lateral roots can spread, bamboo has the potential to cause greater damage to homes and gardens. It too is capable of pushing through asphalt, brickwork, drains and cracks in concrete and is difficult to treat without professional help.
Readily available in garden centres and plant nurseries, bamboo can spread more than 30ft from the root ball beneath the ground, yet only 9% of people are aware of this. When left unchecked, ‘running’ varieties of the plant send out long lateral shoots which emerge in new locations such as lawns, patios, sheds and have even been known to grow through floors into homes. They commonly cross property boundaries, causing legal disputes between neighbours.
Despite this, most people with gardens would still consider planting bamboo, with the main reasons being that they believe it to be beautiful/attractive (26%), low maintenance (24%) and good for creating privacy where a garden is overlooked (21%).
While problematic plants should come with a warning, there is a serious lack of advice and guidance offered by garden centres and nurseries, with only one quarter (25%) of people who bought bamboo reporting that they were given any professional advice about it at the same time.
Bamboo is best avoided, but if you do want to plant it, here’s how to prevent it from spreading:
1: Choose a clumping variety such as Bambusa or Chusquea
2: Always plant bamboo in a container or strong pot, never directly into the ground
3: Use a strong vertical root barrier to line the container, which is designed to contain bamboo.
4: Prune bamboo hard and regularly, at least every spring, to keep it in check.
Nic Seal, Founder and MD of Environet, said: “This research shows there is very little knowledge among the general public about the true nature of this problem plant. Bamboo may look beautiful but people should be very careful to avoid running types and take precautions when planting any bamboo, such as ensuring they’re using specialist root barriers.
“Awareness of the invasive nature of Japanese knotweed has grown significantly in recent years but the biggest worry is that people are still buying and planting bamboo in gardens across the UK, completely oblivious to the risks.”
Utafiti mpya uliofanywa na Environment UK umeonyesha kuwa mianzi bado ni maarufu kwa wamiliki wa nyumba na wakulima ambao wanaweza kuwa hawajui hatari ambayo inaweza kuwa na mali. Kwa mujibu wa ripoti hiyo, asilimia 29 ya watu waliochunguzwa walionyesha kuwa wangepuuza kupanda mianzi kwa sababu ya asili yake ya uvamizi, ikionyesha kwamba watu wengi hawajui hatari za mimea hiyo. Mti wa knotweed wa Kijapani unaweza kuua hofu katika mioyo ya wamiliki wa nyumba, lakini kwa sababu ya umbali mkubwa ambao mizizi yake ya upande inaweza kuenea, mianzi ina uwezo wa kusababisha uharibifu mkubwa kwa nyumba na bustani. Pia inaweza kuvunja lami, matofali, mifereji ya maji na nyufa za saruji na ni vigumu kutibu bila msaada wa wataalamu. Kwa kuwa nyuki hupatikana katika vituo vya bustani na vibanda vya mimea, inaweza kuenea zaidi ya futi 30 kutoka kwa mpira wa mizizi chini ya ardhi, lakini ni watu 9% tu wanajua hii. Wakati kushoto unchecked, 'running' aina ya mmea kutuma nje ndefu upande shina ambayo kuibuka katika maeneo mapya kama vile lawns, patios, sheds na hata wamekuwa inajulikana kukua kupitia sakafu katika nyumba. Kwa kawaida wao huvuka mipaka ya mali, na kusababisha mabishano ya kisheria kati ya majirani. Hata hivyo, watu wengi wanaotumia mbegu za nyuki katika bustani zao wanaamini kuwa ni nzuri, nzuri, na nzuri kwa ajili ya kuunda faragha ambapo bustani ni overlooked. Wakati mimea yenye matatizo inapaswa kuja na onyo, kuna ukosefu mkubwa wa ushauri na mwongozo unaotolewa na vituo vya bustani na vibanda, na robo moja tu (25%) ya watu walionunua mianzi waliripoti kuwa walipewa ushauri wa kitaaluma juu yake wakati huo huo. Kwa hivyo, kama unataka kupanua mbegu, ni bora kuepuka mbegu za bamboo, lakini ikiwa unataka kupanua mbegu, ni muhimu kuepuka kupanua mbegu za bamboo: Chagua aina ya clumping kama vile Bamboo au Chusquea, daima kupanda mbegu katika chombo au sufuria kali, kamwe moja kwa moja chini ya ardhi. 4 - Punguza miti ya mianzi kwa ukawaida, angalau kila majira ya kuchipua, ili kuizuia isivunjike. "Nic Seal, mwanzilishi na MD wa Environet, alisema: ""Utafiti huu unaonyesha kuna maarifa machache sana kati ya umma kuhusu asili halisi ya mmea huu wa tatizo." Nyasi inaweza kuonekana nzuri lakini watu wanapaswa kuwa makini sana ili kuepuka aina za kukimbia na kuchukua tahadhari wakati wa kupanda nyasi yoyote, kama vile kuhakikisha wao ni kutumia vizuizi maalum mizizi. "Ufahamu wa asili ya uvamizi wa knotweed ya Kijapani umekua kwa kiasi kikubwa katika miaka ya hivi karibuni, lakini wasiwasi mkubwa ni kwamba watu bado wananunua na kupanda mianzi katika bustani kote Uingereza, bila kujali hatari. """