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New Rules Aim to Prevent Bamboo Spread in Neighborhood

Bamboo

In last Tuesday’s council session, the City of College Park introduced a resolution to prevent spread of bamboo onto adjacent properties.

The City says it has received a number of complaints from adjoining landowners that bamboo has spread onto their property without their permission, thereby creating a noxious growth.

Currently, there is no law in the city preventing the spread of bamboo to adjoining properties without permission.

The new rule will only be enforced if a neighbor complains about it, and a resident can easily address the problem by putting in barriers to prevent their bamboo from spreading into neighboring yards.

Violators of the rule will get $200 for the first violation and $400 for the second and subsequent violation every 30 days.  The penalty matches what is assessed in Tacoma Park for a violation – the City claims.

Most types of bamboo in the city are non-native species and are invasive. Once established, bamboo is extremely difficult to control, and tends to take over adjacent areas and properties, which makes it a noxious growth.

If a resident doesn’t address the problem, the City can step in and give the person a citation and a fine unless they put in a barrier.

There will be a public hearing on April 12, 2011, at 7:45 pm.

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2 Comments

  1. MK

    Hello,
    I have a neighbor that has excessive amounts of Bamboo that has become over grown for a number of years now. The situation has escalated out of control and is now affected several properties. I do not want the property owner to be fined but I do want the Bamboo to be removed and I want to be able to once again grow veggies and herbs in my garden. It also has killed several fruit trees. This problem has been ongoing for over 10 years. Please guide me as to the best method of dealing with this issue. I reside near Annapolis, Md.
    Thanks,

  2. Caryn

    Pls call me 203-734-6344 to discuss options.
    I am in the same situation only worse
    Cant really begin to barrier after it has spread
    this long. All the rhizomes need to be excavated. Follow up is needed
    for several years with diligence. The longer you wait the harder it will be,
    and this condition is a stigma to the next owner, meaning this must
    be disclosed on the real estate sale. It is best to eradicate the mother plant
    to be free of it. Or it comes right back . Barriers fail easily, and on mature
    groves are very hard to maintain. Rhizomes pruning is every year, and
    people just dont care or do it. We need this alien invasive regulated.
    Every property owner who chooses not to have a bamboo forest
    should not have to excavate and deal with this invasion.
    Phyllostachys is giant timber bamboo and is running, or rhizomatous.
    This CANNOT be shipped to Hawaii. In TOKYO need neighbors permssion
    since it knows no property lines.
    I could go on and on. This is a destructive invasive, and now its
    widespread in the northeast. Laws to follow.

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