Bamboo removal cost guide

There are hundreds of varieties of bamboo, some of which are amongst the world’s fastest-growing plants. Although this makes bamboo many people’s go-to for quick garden coverage, it also makes it invasive as it can easily spread onto neighbouring properties and cause problems to paths and houses if it grows too near them. Sometimes, disputes with neighbours caused by bamboo can even affect house sales. Here, we’ll break down the average bamboo removal cost.

Bamboo removal cost

One visit to remove bamboo by hand is likely to cost between £120 and £280, assuming the job lasts less than a day. Most tradespeople who remove bamboo will give you an estimate for the job and then calculate the end price based on half day or full day rates.

The total cost to remove bamboo will depend on a number of factors including:

• The extent of the problem.
• How tall the bamboo is.
• How many square metres of bamboo you have.
• What kind of bamboo is present.
• The method of removal.
• Ease of access.
• Your location.
• Whether there are obstructions present (such as irrigation systems, pipes, concrete or wiring).

Although there are hundreds of different varieties of bamboo, there are two main groups:

1. Running varieties

Running varieties of bamboo usually cause the most problems. Both main groups of bamboo grow vast root and rhizome systems (rhizomes are stems that run underground and develop new roots). However, with running varieties, these shoot out laterally and very quickly.

This means that with running varieties, in particular, the bamboo can suddenly pop up metres away from the original plant and end up in every nook and cranny of your garden. Worse still, it could end up in your neighbour’s. To reduce costs, most specialists will trace the rhizomes when it’s time to excavate, in order to reduce the amount of unnecessary excavation required.

2. Clumping varieties

Although they don’t usually cause as many problems as running varieties, clumping varieties of bamboo can still be problematic. If you have clumping bamboo that you’d like removed, the whole root ball will need to be taken away. Depending on the size of the plant, this could be quite large.

If you want to continue growing bamboo in your garden in a more controlled way, you may be able to keep some and have it placed in pots. Alternatively, bamboo can be controlled by providing an open trench or barrier around the growth area to contain the rhizomes. However, this will require continual monitoring and pruning of the rhizomes as they appear.

Bamboo removal methods

There are a number of different removal methods and the one you choose will affect the total cost to remove bamboo from your garden.

The main methods include:

• Poisoning
• Stump removal machine
• Hand tools and manual labour
• Excavator
• Boiling water

However, care must be taken when removing bamboo to avoid it spreading. Methods such as using a stump grinding machine or excavator could easily spread the bamboo if carried out in a heavy-handed manner, so poisoning or hand removal are usually better options.

The most environmentally friendly option and a good alternative to poisoning is boiling water. In this case, boiling water is poured onto the roots of the bamboo after the stems have been cut down and the roots exposed.

No matter which method you choose to remove your bamboo, bear in mind that it may require more than one attempt. Make sure that you monitor the area after removal to see if regrowth is occurring.

Cost to remove bamboo key takeaways

• There are around 1,500 species of bamboo that fall into two types: clumping and running.
• Running bamboo, in particular, can be detrimental to properties.
• Make sure you call in a professional for your bamboo removal to ensure it’s dealt with correctly.