Neighbour's bamboo spreading under adjoining fence

Captain Obvious

My neighbour has planted bamboo on his side of our adjoining fence. It has spread onto my side of the wall and taken over a flower bed and begun lifting the cobble next to it. Is there any way I can stop it from my side or anything I can look for him to do to stop it? He is completely unapproachable so it would probably have to be a solicitors letter but can anything actually be done other than request he lift up everything on his side?

MeTheMan

Bit of round-up or similar should do the job.

runawaybishop

Weedkiller injected into the stalk and someone will need to dig down a couple of foot along the boundary and put in a barrier.

HeidiHeidi

I had a bamboo planted in my patio until recently, I had to get rid of it when it started lifting large patio slabs :eek:


They took out a HUGE rootball, but even so, shoots still kept coming up a few feet away from where the main plant had been. I was told to cut them, and pour a bit of bleach on to the open cut stem. I had to do that about five or six times, and it seems to have given up now.


You could try that on the bits that are coming up on your side of the fence, I don't know how successful it would be when a plant is still alive and well nearby, but it might save your cobbles in the short/medium term.

Mr.Wemmick

You will need to dig down at the border fence and put a deep barrier in to stop it spreading, which he should have done if he knew anything about bamboo.
The barrier should stop it from spreading to your side. However, if it is completely out of control, you will have to kill the roots from your side of the garden.

Captain Obvious

Mr.Wemmick wrote: »

You will need to dig down at the border fence and put a deep barrier in to stop it spreading, which he should have done if he knew anything about bamboo.
The barrier should stop it from spreading to your side. However, if it is completely out of control, you will have to kill the roots from your side of the garden.

I'd say he put the barrier on his side alright because he doesn't seem to have an issue. Obviously didn't bother on the other side. Might give you an idea of what he's like.

Mr.Wemmick

Captain Obvious wrote: »

I'd say he put the barrier on his side alright because he doesn't seem to have an issue. Obviously didn't bother on the other side. Might give you an idea of what he's like.

Crikey, the bamboo is the least of your worries. He sounds like a right ar$e.

Kill it from your side. Otherwise you're going to have back breaking work to do twice a year to keep it from spreading and causing structural damage.

mikeecho

Get yourself down to the local co-op or b&q

Captain Obvious

mikeecho wrote: »

Get yourself down to the local co-op or b&q

Will this eliminate the possibility of growing anything on my side?

MeTheMan

Captain Obvious wrote: »

Will this eliminate the possibility of growing anything on my side?

Take it that it will kill what it touches as you spray it on. Once sprayed the plant takes it in from the leafs. Best done when plant is actively growing.

Round up's active ingredient degrades pretty quickly. You will have no problem planting there in the future. You'd be safe to plant after a few days. But, take it that it will kill anything that is currently planted around the bamboo, unless you are very accurate with a sprayer.

Note, I'm no expert on this matter. I'm sure there is more knowledgeable people here.

Lumen

I would send him a letter giving reasonable notice that you are going to treat the bamboo on your side with roundup and suggest that he cuts the roots on his side to stop it killing his own plants. Explain that multiple treatments will be applied over the next year or so and suggest he installs a root barrier. Don't threaten legal action but draw attention to the risk of damage to the wall foundations and suggest he considers planting a clumping rather than running variety of bamboo.

If you have leafy growth on your side, don't cut it. You want leaves to take up the roundup down to the roots.

Del2005

Lumen wrote: »

I would send him a letter giving reasonable notice that you are going to treat the bamboo on your side with roundup and suggest that he cuts the roots on his side to stop it killing his own plants. Explain that multiple treatments will be applied over the next year or so and suggest he installs a root barrier. Don't threaten legal action but draw attention to the risk of damage to the wall foundations and suggest he considers planting a clumping rather than running variety of bamboo.

If you have leafy growth on your side, don't cut it. You want leaves to take up the roundup down to the roots.

Captain Obvious wrote: »

My neighbour has planted bamboo on his side of our adjoining fence. It has spread onto my side of the wall and taken over a flower bed and begun lifting the cobble next to it. Is there any way I can stop it from my side or anything I can look for him to do to stop it? He is completely unapproachable so it would probably have to be a solicitors letter but can anything actually be done other than request he lift up everything on his side?

For that type of person saying nothing is the better option. Treat the weed on your side of the boundary and let him worry about his side.

ebbsy

Talk to your neighbour perhaps ?

Lumen

Del2005 wrote: »

For that type of person saying nothing is the better option. Treat the weed on your side of the boundary and let him worry about his side.

I would always act reasonably in these situations until that course of action is exhausted, with one eye on the possibility of future legal action.

Escalation often ends badly. He could plant a Lleylandii in retaliation, and then what are you going to do?

Plus, people often overestimate their own reasonableness.

Captain Obvious

Lumen wrote: »

I would always act reasonably in these situations until that course of action is exhausted, with one eye on the possibility of future legal action.

Escalation often ends badly. He could plant a Lleylandii in retaliation, and then what are you going to do?

Plus, people often overestimate their own reasonableness.

He previously called the Gardaí because he said he saw a rat on my back wall. We live in the country next to a field. I've had to get cctv installed around my house to disprove the ridiculous accusations he makes. Maybe just take me at my word for now that he is unreasonable and unapproachable. I just want to stop the stuff going under my cobble.

wildwillow

Was the bamboo planted after you installed cameras. Maybe he is guarding his privacy and it will become a tit for tat situation.
You will be overrun with bamboo unless you deal with it and weed killer is the only option.

Markcheese

Okay, I'm not going get into the neighbour dispute... But, on getting rid of the bamboo, round up works on growing plants, so wait till spring,
You can get it in a gel form for putting on individual plants, so can avoid spray drift,
Don't cut the plant for a few weeks to let the active ingredients work its way to the root..
There are other weed killers available that may work better on woody plants like bamboo, so get some advice... Good luck

Lumen

Captain Obvious wrote: »

He previously called the Gardaí because he said he saw a rat on my back wall. We live in the country next to a field. I've had to get cctv installed around my house to disprove the ridiculous accusations he makes. Maybe just take me at my word for now that he is unreasonable and unapproachable. I just want to stop the stuff going under my cobble.

I'm not saying you're being unreasonable, how would I know? I'm making a general point.

RebelButtMunch

ebbsy wrote: »

Talk to your neighbour perhaps ?

Read the op. He's completely unapprorachable

AmberGold

In my experience (of having planted 12 spreading bamboos in my garden, left there for 8 years) weedkiller of any type does not work whatsoever. Bamboo is a hooligan plant, I've tried gels, industrial strength weedkillers, injecting the shoots etc with zero success.

You need to dig them out in their entirety. I had to get a lad in with a Mini Digger. I'm still dealing with the odd new shoots every now and again.

Mr.Wemmick

Captain Obvious wrote: »

He previously called the Gardaí because he said he saw a rat on my back wall. We live in the country next to a field. I've had to get cctv installed around my house to disprove the ridiculous accusations he makes. Maybe just take me at my word for now that he is unreasonable and unapproachable. I just want to stop the stuff going under my cobble.

I too have had dealings with a neighbour a few years very similar to this. You can't reason with bonkers nor engage with it, otherwise you bring all the hassle and grief back your way again. Life completely improved when I ignored the shower I lived next to and stopped bothering with them.

Kill the bamboo and save yourself grief times two.

_Brian

I think people don’t fully understand what it’s like to have a proper bonkers neighbor and how insane life gets as a result.

We had one “lady”;
Tip roundup on plants our side of the fence.
Cut a hole in a hedge screening our site so they could see directly from their kitchen window into our back yard.
On occasion she would run up and down along the fence as I mowed the lawn swearing across at me as I passed.
Claimed we only bought a trampoline for our 3 yo so she could bounce up and see in their window.

A crazy neighbor is a terrible affliction and I sympathise with OP.

Just deal with the plant on your side, try various weed killer options. Your fully entitled to deal with any plant on your side of the fence.

Pa ElGrande

Captain Obvious wrote: »

He previously called the Gardaí because he said he saw a rat on my back wall. We live in the country next to a field. I've had to get cctv installed around my house to disprove the ridiculous accusations he makes. Maybe just take me at my word for now that he is unreasonable and unapproachable. I just want to stop the stuff going under my cobble.

Be careful here, this is not legal advise. Do not use weedkiller on the bamboo as if you kill it on the neighbours side you become liable for damages if the neighbour is so inclined. You can only dig up the roots and insert a barrier on your half of the boundary to prevent the roots damaging your property, you must also return the roots from the bamboo to the neighbour.

I would suggest rather than escalating this through the court system that you find someone who is mutually acceptable to both of you to arbitrate between you and the neighbour to bring this to a peaceful close rather than escalating further assuming of course that both you and the neighbour are open to settling this.

If you need to bring in contractors or materials to remove the roots and insert a barrier then record the extent of the damage and keep the quotes and invoices paid since if this and other matters go to court this will be included in your claim.

wildwillow

Pa ElGrande wrote: »

Be careful here, this is not legal advise. Do not use weedkiller on the bamboo as if you kill it on the neighbours side you become liable for damages if the neighbour is so inclined. You can only dig up the roots and insert a barrier on your half of the boundary to prevent the roots damaging your property, you must also return the roots from the bamboo to the neighbour.

I would suggest rather than escalating this through the court system that you find someone who is mutually acceptable to both of you to arbitrate between you and the neighbour to bring this to a peaceful close rather than escalating further assuming of course that both you and the neighbour are open to settling this.

If you need to bring in contractors or materials to remove the roots and insert a barrier then record the extent of the damage and keep the quotes and invoices paid since if this and other matters go to court this will be included in your claim.

Surely I have a right to control what's growing in my garden. Bamboo can be as invasive as japanese knotweed. You cannot be held responsible for any damage caused on the other side of the wall as a side effect of clearing a patch in your garden, using an acceptable weed killer. I doubt the treatment on a part of the root will kill the entire plant.
It will continue to invade your space unless you put in a barrier. This is going to be a difficult and costly job. Depending on the species, a barrier may not be enough.

You will probably have to resort to the legal route if it continues to damage your property.

I wish neighbours like yours didn't exist, but they do and manage to make everyone's life a misery. It is hard not to be drawn into a feud but try to mantain calm and use your legal rights to resolve the situation.

Document every interaction and don't be tempted to lower your behaviour standards to theirs.
If this is solved there will always be another cause for them to annoy you.

Markcheese

If it miraculously dies, then it dies.. Plants die all the time.. So if you are going at the plant, do it subtlety.. And you don't want to hack at iy or did till after its dead anyway...

Pa ElGrande

wildwillow wrote: »

Surely I have a right to control what's growing in my garden. Bamboo can be as invasive as japanese knotweed. You cannot be held responsible for any damage caused on the other side of the wall as a side effect of clearing a patch in your garden . . .

Tread carefully see page 3 & 4, Irish courts tend to follow precedents set in the UK in such matters.

What can I do about roots encroaching from a tree growing in an adjoining property?

The rights to cut the roots of any tree which encroach from the land of a neighbour are similar to those governing the cutting of branches. Great care is needed to avoid rendering the tree unstable and liable to windblow. There is no legal right to poison encroaching roots. If the roots are damaged, and the tree injured then the person using toxic substances may be liable. If it is proven that the encroaching roots caused damage to a property, then an action may be brought against the owner. Neighbour has the right to abatement.

source

It is probably best to talk to the neighbour and get to the root of whatever the neighbours dislike and suspicion is you both will likely to be living side by side for some time to come.

Captain Obvious

Pa ElGrande wrote: »

Tread carefully see page 3 & 4, Irish courts tend to follow precedents set in the UK in such matters.




It is probably best to talk to the neighbour and get to the root of whatever the neighbours dislike and suspicion is you both will likely to be living side by side for some time to come.

I'm not sure how many times I have to say it. He is not approachable. I've been living beside him since the houses were built ten years ago. The first thing we saw of him was when he punched the builder in the front yard because the drains were blocked. When he washes his front driveway he sprays towards my car in my driveway. I've tried talking to him about other issues before. He just makes threats. I may just get a solicitor to send him a letter. Doesn't seem like there's a reasonable permanent solution to this from my side. We're talking about 30 foot of adjoining wall so a solicitors letter would probably be cheaper than getting the work done to dig everything up on my side and install a guard.

99nsr125

Captain Obvious wrote: »

My neighbour has planted bamboo on his side of our adjoining fence. It has spread onto my side of the wall and taken over a flower bed and begun lifting the cobble next to it. Is there any way I can stop it from my side or anything I can look for him to do to stop it? He is completely unapproachable so it would probably have to be a solicitors letter but can anything actually be done other than request he lift up everything on his side?

Spike 80

Captain Obvious

Captain Obvious wrote: »

I'm not sure how many times I have to say it. He is not approachable. I've been living beside him since the houses were built ten years ago. The first thing we saw of him was when he punched the builder in the front yard because the drains were blocked. When he washes his front driveway he sprays towards my car in my driveway. I've tried talking to him about other issues before. He just makes threats. I may just get a solicitor to send him a letter. Doesn't seem like there's a reasonable permanent solution to this from my side. We're talking about 30 foot of adjoining wall so a solicitors letter would probably be cheaper than getting the work done to dig everything up on my side and install a guard.

This may be the best course of action but you’ll still probably have a long road ahead. Before sending solicitors letter, get an expert in and get them to compile a report with a suggested plan of action. Include this with solicitors letter setting out a timeframe for resolution.
Do not take things into your own hands. While it might be tempting to empty a container of weed killer onto the offending plant, the backlash may be disastrous for you.
Good Luck. May 2019 be the year Peace and harmony is restored.

Captain Obvious

Deleted User wrote: »

This may be the best course of action but you’ll still probably have a long road ahead. Before sending solicitors letter, get an expert in and get them to compile a report with a suggested plan of action. Include this with solicitors letter setting out a timeframe for resolution.
Do not take things into your own hands. While it might be tempting to empty a container of weed killer onto the offending plant, the backlash may be disastrous for you.
Good Luck. May 2019 be the year Peace and harmony is restored.

What would such an expert be called? Is it a tree or a plant specialist?

Captain Obvious

Captain Obvious wrote: »

What would such an expert be called? Is it a tree or a plant specialist?

A good tree surgeon should be able to advise.