Why You Should Never Plant Bamboo in Your Yard—and What to Do If It’s Already There

When you’re planning your garden, you’re probably thinking about plant aesthetics, perhaps creating a little privacy, and what works best for your growing zone. But you may not be thinking about a plant’s final size or how invasive it can be in your garden—which is why so many people end up with an invasive plant problem in their yard.

Before you hit the garden center and start dreaming of using bamboo as a fast-growing privacy screen, take a look at why growing bamboo can be a really bad idea.

In general, “avoid plants that others want to share from their gardens,” says C.L. Fornari, gardening expert at GardenLady.com. “There’s a reason that they have it to give away. Your sister or neighbors seldom offer to give you a peony, yet they offer the Siberian iris that needs frequent dividing or the gooseneck loosestrife that is taking over the perennial garden.”

If there’s a lot of content about how to get rid of a specific type of plant—steer clear.

Why Bamboo Can Be So Bad in Your Garden

Bamboo is beloved for adding plenty of privacy, fast. In fact, the Guinness Book of World Records gives it the honor of being the fastest-growing plant on the planet, with some species gaining nearly three feet of growth per day. (Yes, day.) And it’s also a pretty plant, which makes a beautiful foundation planting behind other smaller plants.

But that mega-fast growth rate is often coupled with an equally fast (and far) spread—depending upon which type you grow. Some species have a clumping habit, which makes it easier to control how far they spread. But the “running-type” bamboo extends underground stems from the original planting, which allows it to wander and grow far beyond your original planting—and even into your neighbors’ gardens. These running-type bamboos can spread quickly, overtaking other plants, damaging hardscaping like a stone patio, and even harming your home’s foundation if planted near your house.

How to Deal With Bamboo

If you already have bamboo growing and don’t want it, digging up the plant and ensuring that you get all the roots and rhizomes is your ticket out of the bamboo forest. But keep in mind that this usually isn’t a one-and-done prospect. It may take a lot of time (and a lot of digging) to ensure that you get it all. Boiling water can also be used on young plants and roots to help weaken or kill off the plants.

Is It Possible to Plant Bamboo Safely?

If you do want to include bamboo in your garden, consider planting it in a container, where you can easily manage its growth and keep it from spreading. Look for clumping bamboo rather than running bamboo.

If you’re planning to plant bamboo directly in the ground, planting experts recommend creating a hard barrier around the plant to prevent extra growth. That means installing heavy plastic (60-millimeter thickness) or even metal or concrete in a circle a few feet around the plant, and ensuring that the barrier breaks the surface of the dirt and travels beneath the plant, too. Plant bamboo far away from the foundation of your house, driveways, patios, and neighboring houses and yards.