Bamboo invasion in New Jersey is now the cause for many lawsuits

Whether you’ve inherited bamboo on your property, or you planted it in hopes for a beautiful privacy hedge, you may now agree bamboo is just huge headache to have on your property. Many homeowners in New Jersey are now dealing with this invasive plant taking over their yards and encroaching on their neighbor’s property. As more and more towns create ordinances against bamboo, the feuds and lawsuits between neighbors have also increased.

Many homeowners are now learning the damage bamboo can cause to their property and neighboring properties as well. This unmanageable plant can quickly start taking over the land destroying anything in its way if not contained properly. “Running bamboo” received its name for how quickly it can grow and spread from yard to yard. Even growing under pools, asphalt, or home foundations. The damage this plant can cause can be very costly. The only way to contain bamboo is to put in place a barrier high enough and low into the ground to contain is roots.

Removing bamboo can be a whole other challenge. Simply cutting down bamboo won’t get rid of it. The roots must be completely removed. This excruciatingly difficult task can rarely be done by a single person without the right tools. It requires digging deep into the ground and removing all the bamboo from the surrounding areas.

Justin Drappi, owner of Professional Bamboo Landscapers, has dealt with different species of bamboo throughout the state. “I’ve handled many cases where bamboo has caused feuds between neighbors and even lawsuits due to encroaching bamboo. Bamboo removal can be difficult, and containment isn’t always the answer. But whatever you choose to do, it must be done right the first time around. Many inexperienced landscaping companies may not understand the importance of removing every rhizome from the ground to prevent it from coming back. Things can get very expensive very quickly if not done right.”

As this invasive plant continues to grow in many counties throughout New Jersey, more and more towns are creating ordinances requiring special maintenance or removal of bamboo. Hefty fines are also associated with some of these ordinances.

“Many homeowners may not realize the potential problem they have on their properties until it’s too late. The damage I’ve seen from bamboo can be very costly, so it’s important to get it removed as soon as possible”, said Justin.

If you have bamboo on your property you can contact Professional Bamboo landscapers for a free quote.

973.658.6530 or email them at professionalbamboolandscapers@gmail.com