Running or clumping: which have I got?
| Clumping (Bambusa) | Running (Phyllostachys) | |
|---|---|---|
| Rhizomes | Short, in a dense clump | Long, spreading away from the clump |
| How it behaves | Not as invasive, says NSW WeedWise, but it can still form dense stands that crowd out other plants | Golden bamboo's rhizomes can travel several metres under fences, asphalt and concrete before coming up |
| Height | 4.5 m to over 24 m (Gardening Australia); stems up to 25 m tall and 10 cm across (NSW WeedWise) | Golden bamboo grows to about 8 m |
| Weed listings | We couldn't confirm a listing | Golden bamboo is declared in the ACT, NSW and WA (Weeds Australia) and is Council Pest Vegetation in Brisbane |
Why does running bamboo end up next door?
The rhizomes do the travelling. Weeds Australia says golden bamboo's can run several metres under a fence, a driveway or a slab before they surface, which is how a neighbour's screen turns up in your lawn.
It can fool you, too. Newly planted Phyllostachys may stay compact for 6 or 7 years before it sends out runners, so a well-behaved clump isn't proof it's a clumper. If the plant label is long gone, an arborist can tell you which kind it is.
Before anyone digs a trench
Have the services located first. Lodge a Before You Dig Australia (BYDA) enquiry at byda.com.au before any digging starts, and remember its plans won't show private services such as irrigation pipes or a cable running power to the shed. Barrier trenches follow fences and paths, which is exactly where pipes and cables tend to run.
Barriers, or getting every bit out
Weeds Australia gives two ways to control golden bamboo: an underground barrier around it, or removing it by hand, including all the rhizomes and roots. A Gardening Australia presenter told the ABC that a barrier for running bamboo means digging down about 600 millimetres and putting in concrete or another barrier.
The 'all the rhizomes' part is the hard bit, and it's heavy, slow work on an established patch. Don't dump the waste in bushland or on a vacant block: Weeds Australia says dumped garden rubbish containing rhizome pieces is one way golden bamboo spreads. Our root barriers page explains how barrier jobs are scoped.
What you can do, and what to hand over
You can
- Cut canes off at the base with loppers or a pruning saw.
- Thin out old and dead canes to open up a clumping screen.
- Snap off new shoots coming up where you don't want them, and keep at it.
- Bag cuttings with rhizome attached rather than dumping them.
Leave to an arborist
- Digging out an established running bamboo, rhizomes and all.
- Putting a root barrier along a fence, path or wall.
- Clearing a big clump close to pipes, paving or the house.
- Canes anywhere near power lines: stay well back, and see trees and power lines for who to call.
Neighbours, weeds and the council
In NSW, bamboo counts as a tree for neighbour disputes. The Trees (Disputes Between Neighbours) Regulation 2024 says so, which means the Land and Environment Court process can apply to a neighbour's bamboo. Our neighbours' trees guide walks through it.
A weed listing doesn't answer the permit question. Brisbane lists golden bamboo as Council Pest Vegetation under its Natural Assets Local Law, yet Brisbane City Council says permission is still needed to clear pest plant trees that are protected. Before a big clear-out, ask your council; the tree removal permits page has the ones we cover.
Bamboo: what to do next
Work out the type first. If it's running bamboo on a boundary, we'd put the effort into a proper barrier or a full dig-out rather than cutting canes every month, and we'd have the services located before the first spade goes in.
Want an arborist to look at it?
Tell us the job and your postcode, and a local arborist calls you to talk it through.