The shoots come up only in May and simply require you to kick them over they are very fragile. With no attention they can grow out of control but with this very easy measure they are easily controlled.

I live next to a person, who thoughtlessly used bamboo on the back of their property.

It eventually grew to be some 40 sq. feet in width, and approximately 100 yards in length, with the shoots and leaves, regularly falling into about six homes and their property.

"Easily controlled" huh ?

Smithtown NY's Town Code on bamboo...let's hope Brookhaven's is as simple but don't hold your breath !

(14)
No owner, tenant or occupier of property anywhere within the Town of Smithtown shall cause, suffer or allow bamboo to be planted, maintained or otherwise permitted to exist within 10 feet of any property line, street, sidewalk or public right-of-way.
[Added 8-9-2011]

http://ecode360.com/SM0115#SM0115

Elizabeth C., the "bamboo lovers" forget Human Nature..."when you give them an Inch they take a Mile !"

Thanks Elisabeth C. !

Good Luck to you also :-) ! We both need a lot of it !

The first commenter is wrong as Phyllostachys will go 9.3 miles per the
us.fed.data report and is scientifically one organism. It will continue to invade
in a 360 degree pattern around the mother plant, and will invade faster each
successive year. This must be disclosed in a real estate sale. This is stigma.
http://usresociety.com/1850/avoid-bamboo-planting/

Anyone needing information on damages please call 203-734-6344.

http://brookhaveninvasive.com/list-of-invasive-species/

Great job Brookhaven.

http://www.eddmaps.org/user/manage/

Thanks so very much, Caryn !

http://www.eddmaps.org/report/images/Phyllostachys%20merritt%20parkway2.jpg

Will this law require us to remove existing bamboo? The guy behind me planted it several years ago, as it spread the affected neighbors have been happy with it because it created a privacy screen that was unattainable by a 6 foot fence due to our hilly terrain. I've allowed it to grow along the fence line and it is now approaching another neighbor's property, an inground barrier would be impossible dues to the roots of a large tree on our property line (a norway maple, another invasive specie)

it might be interesting though if neighbors on all sides of the property lines want it.

http://www.eddmaps.org/distribution/point.cfm?id=2017840

Look close there are peonies getting invaded. This really is a good picture.
Did you know in China where Phyllostachys is native, it is only grown on plantations for building ( timber) They know of its invasiveness. They use slender weavers instead. Even in Tokyo, one cannot plant this freely .Hawaii , does not allow Phyllostachys to be shipped at all, even if selling it on Ebay or online.
People are selling it to the unsuspecting public on Craigslist and even giving rhizomes out for free on Free cycle. ( online ) This is an alien invasive that is non-native to our continent and will quickly form a dense monoculture and destroy our wetlands and forest. Rhizomes must be taken to a burn center, as they are hazardous waste. Laws must be * strict to protect the property owner. With this invasive when you realize it is a problem, it is almost too late.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7fiLgTPQhQ&feature=related

http://www.diynetwork.com/videos/eliminating-bamboo/70247.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LB6zKYXk9E

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4B91Or1Qiw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFPMVqicApU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=7M3f9NN3y6A

And here is the species you are dealing with: Phyllostachys yellow groove
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppi4HJnl3-k

Homeowners can't Get Enough Information about this destructive plant !

Thanks again, Caryn...Keep it coming !

http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/New-Law-May-Ban-Bamboo-Plants-in-Haverford-127890563.html

They passed the law some time ago, good video .

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/p480x480/418062_2838130747403_1083295360_32450931_562893050_n.jpg

As always, Thanks, Caryn !

http://wsunews.wsu.edu/pages/publications.asp?Action=Detail&PublicationID=29300

Isn't this already covered by civil code? If you take an action (planting something) that later damages someone else's property, they can sue you for damages?

The last thing we need is more laws designed to restrict everyone because a few people cause a problem. Instead, you make the people causing the problem fix it or pay for it.

The invasions are widespread in all the states now. Damage photos are coming in fast. The rhizomes do not only grow in the first 2-8 inches as above comment says. This is incorrect. People who sell will not acknowledge this is invasive running bamboo and destructive. They know enough to not even plant it in the ground in China, where it is native. It is only grown on plantations for timber.
People selling it ,promote it, as they make money fast. Phyllostachys is a fast and easy to propagate, and sell. Non-invasive bamboo/clumping Fargesia, is not easy to propagate.
Phyllostachys is an alien invasive non-indigenous to our continent. This genus
in an invasive species of the worst kind. Rhizomatous..very difficult to eradicate, once it gets a hold. Absolutely need laws to protect property owners.

Not 2- 8 inches as a seller would like to have you believe.
Take a look:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=467nPEYnK-U

http://www.ecosystemgardening.com/most-hated-plants-bamboo.html

Phyllostachys is a genus of temperate cold hardy timber bamboo, and this is an aggressive alien invasive species that will form a monoculture and spread underground via rhizomes more aggressive each successive year. This is temperate cold hardy timber bamboo and is listed by many states now as invasive. Phyllostachys cannot be shipped into Hawaii. The above link shows how serious this is. Once you backhoe it out, and miss a piece of rhizome , its back. People need to understand it is a non-native destructive invasive ,and there are alternatives.
DO NOT PLANT INVASIVE RUNNING BAMBOO

http://www.bambooworld.com.au/pages/general_running.php
Here is a "professional bamboo seller ", notice they tell the truth and also the
facts..They DO NOT recommend Running Bamboo Phyllostachys.
They write :try to contain it , and it will choke itself off. This is not for urban plantings as it will escape and aggressively invade and destroy adjoining properties.

Steve:
Our neighbor planted running bamboo and we were forced to finally go to the expense of having a barrier installed. It cost 3,000. It will not stop the bamboo but will only slow it for awhile. Hubby and I spent 3 years digging rhizomes in 95 degree heat before the barrier was installed. We lost all plants, sprinkler system, lawn and trees on that side of our property. Hubby had stress injuries to his knees from the constant work involved and had to have surgery. To date it has cost us 10,500 dollars not counting the cost of the surgery and doctor visits. We live in Florida, and the rhizomes on the Phyllostachys in our yard are exactly 14 inches deep.

http://mrbamboo.com.au/ideas/23-submissions/50-regulations-saga-phyllostachys-bamboo-noxious-weed

All Phyllostachys sold must bear a sticker stating: for containers only.
World wide this is well known. Global and Pier Invasive information.

This is a new problem here, and people from every state are reporting damages. Towns are passing laws to protect not only the property owner, but their own
infrastructure from damage.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7M3f9NN3y6A

Education and Early Detection - please view.

Some facts that are missing here:
1) A metal barrier is the wrong thing to install. Not only is it a hazard to have 2 inches of metal sticking out of the ground (which is necessary for it to work), but it will decay and fail.
2) A proper high-density polypropylene, 40 mil or heavier barrier will work if installed properly. Which is not as simple as digging a trench and burying it. It should be at an angle for example. And several other factors are important. Google it.
3) Bamboo will not cross a stream as someone said here. There are only a few varieties that can even survive standing water.
4) Bamboo rhizomes do stay toward the surface, except when they are directed downward (for example, by an improperly installed barrier) or when the soil conditions are significantly better deeper down (such as when a developer bulldozes cheap fill over good topsoil.

If you want to ban bamboo because there are idiots causing problems with it, then you are on the path to banning a lot of things that YOU might enjoy. Shall we ban all dogs, because they are a hell of a nuisance to people who don't own them, and more importantly because people get bitten fairly frequently by dogs that are not handled properly. How about motorcycles? There are jerks who port their mufflers and ride around near people who are trying to sleep. So let's ban them all, right? How about banning fireworks on the 4th of July. They statistically do a lot more damage than bamboo. What else shall we ban?

Where people surrender fulfilling personal responsibility, Government will fill the void. It's like Gravity.

The argument, that goes somewhat like... "Shall we ban all dogs, because they are a hell of a nuisance to people who don't own them, and more importantly because people get bitten fairly frequently by dogs that are not handled properly. How about motorcycles?" is specious.

Just because Jeff and Steve appear to know something about bamboo, doesn't mean everyone does. In fact, it can be easily demonstrated, most do not.

http://www.northjersey.com/news/95390999_Town_worries_bamboo_will_spread_to_its_parks.html

Sorry but this is over dramatic, this isn't something new that is devouring our children, I remember in the 1970's some neighbors planted some, it grew thick over the years when let go, but then some people just got rid of it with relative ease, a friend recently put the bamboo that was growing in her backyard on craigslist under "free stuff", someone came and harvested the wood, and the next year only a few sprouts came back but without an energy source it mostly died off, it really needs to be let go for a lot of years to thrive, People must be really board to make such a big deal out of something that's been here mostly fine for years.

"People must be really board to make such a big deal out of something that's been here mostly fine for years"

It's about "Personal Responsibility"...something lacking in Most People these days.

Sounds..."over dramatic" to you ?

You can say this about...Anything, out there, John.

But...But if it directly affects a person's "Quality of Life"...If it is something that is particularly destructive to a person's property value, and the ability to sell their home, then you can't be so "Flip" about the issue can you, John ?

Apparently, this is enough of an Issue, to a considerable amount of people, to write a Law about it.

It's good for you, that you don't have this problem...some others don't have that Good Fortune, there John.

It Sucks, and There Is No "Good" Reason, that this plant should have been brought into this area, In The First Place, and where, in general, where people are Irresponsible, and Ignorant about it.

P.S. And I don't care that there are, socalled, "non-invasive" forms of bamboo.

All of it should be "Out Lawed" !

Here is the Town of Brookhaven and one of it's "Board Members" on the subject, and as Feckless and Cowardly as Ever !

"A public hearing on the matter will be held March 20 at 6:30 pm at Brookhaven Town Hall.

Steve Fiore-Rosenfeld agrees with this decision but asked it be tabled to see how best to implement it. He wants to be sure he doesn’t sway public opinion away from himself."

http://www.independentsentinel.com/2012/02/brookhaven-towns-criminalization-of-bamboo-plants-in-residents-yards/

Here's a preview of Huntington's proposed bamboo ban...public hearing March. 13...

"The proposed legislation calls for a 10-foot buffer between a bamboo installation and the bamboo owner's property line and a below-ground barrier at least 4-feet deep to prevent migration. Any bamboo owner who allows the plant to migrate over to a neighboring property will be guilty of trespass and punishable by fine of between $300 and $3,000 for a second offense and $500 and $5,000 for a third offense."
http://www.northshoreoflongisland.com/Articles-News-i-2012-02-16-91350.112114-sub-Huntington-bamboo-ban-hearing-March-13.html

Setting the record straight on Kathy Walsh.

"Campaign finance reports filed last week show Councilwoman Kathy Walsh raised more money this filing period than her fellow Council District representatives in a year where she’s running unopposed, according to the New York State Board of Elections.

Records show Ms. Walsh, a longtime Republican now backed by Democrats, has raised nearly $42,000 since January. That’s about $3,000 more than Dan Panico, who raised the most of any GOP-backed councilman in Brookhaven this filing period.

Ms. Walsh, who also serves as deputy supervisor, raised the most money despite receiving no donations over $1,500. Her single biggest contributor, a town worker, donated $1,295 this filing period. Many of her top donors are town employees."

http://northshoresun.timesreview.com/2011/07/14589/brookhaven-campaign-finance-disclosure-reports-filed/

Remember that statement..."Many of her top donors are town employees." when you know that her husband Bill Walsh, currently, is "CSEA Blue Collar President" ..."President of the Town's Blue Collar Union Workers" unit !

http://www.northshoreoflongisland.com/Articles-News-i-2012-01-26-91102.112114-sub-Publicprivate-partnerships-on-horizon-for-Brookhaven.html

I am receiving damage photos and testimony from every state now, and they are sending photographs. It is all Phyllostachy and all invasions. This is what is happening now and that is why so many towns are passing laws. The list of towns is long, and it is because of the damage. This is invasive running bamboo. Plain and simple. Here is Mayor Greg Lebold's ordinance from Rutledge , Penn.
http://library.municode.com/HTML/12853/level3/PTIITOCO_CH74VE_ARTIVBA.html
His property was under invasion, and he passed this one.

http://commack.patch.com/articles/smithtown-notebook-bamboo-law-approved-recycling-center-goes-solar#video-4328313

Mr. Lau,
Thanks for the reply. We have actually done every single thing you mentioned. If I see survivor shoots this spring, they're comin' down. We spent a tremendous amount of money to dig it up, put in a "real" barrier and than threw a retaining in for good measure. What's upsetting is that the bamboo still survives on their side. We begged them to let us pull it out on their side, they wouldn't let us. That is the kingd of situation where I think an ordinance would come in handy. We've done our part, they refuse to do theirs. Very frustrating!!

What are the current laws for Norway maples? they are classified VERY invasive and foreign, I spend much more time pulling those out of my ground and flower beds each spring than I do clipping my neighbors bamboo that creep over. It’s not a bad comparison.

alert ** readers

STEVE LAU is posting to warn everyone on Facebook
about my information -see below post which shows him
Warning everyone on ABS.

Also , Elisabeth **your post are being deleted here where you
said all my information was accurate. My post below yours was also removed.
They may be hitting the report as inappropriate button, which deletes the posts. Elisabeth can you "REPORT THIS " to the paper ? This really is wrong.

Bill, he has managed to hit the button and remove all your posts as
well stating the problems with invasive bamboo.
Can someone please report this to Patch ? Elisabeth's have all been removed
possibly by him as well. I am really surprised at this. Would they go this far to be able to sell ? Bill, all your comments about the problems with this bamboo from this morning are all gone.

I find any bamboo to be one of the easiest plants to remove! J Knotweed is everywhere and in peoples yards;Wheres the outrage! That stuff has a root system way more complicated. I can easily remove that to! Trees on the other hand, well I don't have excavator.

Forgot to say. BAMBOO WOULDN'T DO THAT (SCREAMING). IT SUCKS UP MORE CO2 than trees. does caryn tell you that.Oh forgot, we just say we want green peace so we fit in.

Do any of the haters have any truth they can talk about? I have an idea. How about put your energy in to making sure that criminals that should stay in, do. Know what talking about(sad home invasion). NO ,but send the poor guy who has a third offense for Bamboo invasion, to jail and let the scum out! typical.

Man. I had a Lot of posts flagged. I sense a cover up

Hmm. flagged for speaking the truth. corrupt much?

Why is she allowed to call herself a specialist? It's a lie and any post she has should not be allowed

Exactly. If Steve Lau's posts cannot be shown because he sells bamboo, hers should not be shown because she lies.

Caryn. I am not trying to be nasty. Just trying to protect all of the Bambuseros out there.

I see my comments pointing out a major glaring error was just too embarassing for her to allow to remain. She has moved to the next step in her chain of errors.

It's good to debate the issues but personal attacks and taunting comments will be deleted.

Good morning all you Bamboo lovers and haters.

Well,don't think I will spend my sunday talking about the lies.There are too many benefits from bamboo too list right now and they will only grow as the tree industry can't keep up with demand. For the people who want it in their yards for whatever reason, they should be allowed.Controlling it is too easy.

Sorry. I don't sell it.I enjoy it's beauty

http://www.blujay.com/item/Live-fresh-dug-Bamboo-root-10-inches-Ready-for-planting-11220000-3794990 Above is an online seller of Yellow Groove invasive bamboo -
In the 5th paragraph up from the bottom he is thanking Steve Lau for telling him it is Phyllostachys-yellow groove . He says it is from the mother plant from Thailand ?
NO MENTION OF BARRIER OR CONTAINMENT.

Here is his other ad, again thanking Steve Lau for telling him it is yellow groove.
He ships RHIZOME PIECES ONLINE - of this invasive bamboo.
http://www.blujay.com/item/Live-fresh-dug-Bamboo-root-10-inches-Ready-for-planting-11220000-3794990

These may be in violation of shipping laws by state . This we do not know yet.
This post will remain as long as it isn't deleted by these posters above.

Patch : "you need to fix this problem, or we cannot use this section ".
I hope Councilwoman Kathy Walsh can see this. I will personally email her
this information today as well. Elisabeth hopefully can see this.... ABS as well.

how is this relevant?

A Warning going out by an ebay seller of Phyllostachys on Facebook to warn ABS that I am out there giving wrong information : Posted publicly by Steve Lau
•
Pat Guild likes this.

Lau Steve
http://millerplace-rockypoint.patch.com/users/caryn-rickel-invasive-bamboo-research-specialist

Attention to members of the ABS. There is a self proclaimed invasive bamboo research specialist spreading misinformation on bamboo and trying to get it banned throughout the nation.

If Town council members are starting to take her seriously, this could be a real problem. Above is the link to her web page.

Bottom line is online sellers do not like that the word is out on :
Phyllostachys invasive running bamboo. This is very easy to propagate by rhizome
to sell. The clumping bamboo is not easy to propagate. The public absolutely needs to be aware or this, until the lawmakers can regulate it.

http://stevesbamboogarden.blogspot.com/2011/10/how-to-sell-and-ship-bamboos.html

Seller teaching others how to sell Phyllostachys on ebay, same person as above,
I urge the readers here to save these links for their town meeting before
the PATCH gets sabotaged in the comment section , as it did yesterday.
Patch is aware of what occurred yesterday. I hope this sheds some light on the
magnitude of the problem with Invasive bamboo. This is a nationwide problem at this
point.

Why are you still attacking Steve? Probably because your expertise has been found to be flawed.

Steve's garden: How to sell and ship bamboos efficiently ...
stevesbamboogarden.blogspot.com/2011/10/how-to-sell-and-ship-bamboos.html
Oct 3, 2011 ... Ever since I started selling bamboos on eBay starting in 2010, I've sold well into the hundreds, and had to .... Posted by Steve Lau at 9:23 PM ...
Freshly dug live Bamboo root ready to plant,F

I'm not sure why some of my comments have been removed. Nothing I posted was personal or offensive. Considering the nightmare I've been through with my own bamboo situation,I feel my posts are very relevant. Running bamboo is invasive, destructive and potentially dangerous (step on a baby shoot and tell me what that's like). It is a fact. Responsibility starts with those who sell it. It trickles down to those who allow it to infringe on others rights to enjoy their property safely and peacefully. What I find amazing are the posts whose postees state that it is easily removable and can easily be controlled. If that's really the case, than contain it. Don't let it spread to someone else's yard. If containment was really so simple, would we be having this discussion?

Elisabeth , these guys learned if they hit the Flag as Inappropriate button
a number of times, the post deletes. Patch :Lon Cohen is aware of it.
You had very good comments, and yes they were deleted. The one where you said my information was re-checked by you and very accurate, and that you did not like getting info.from a seller. That was deleted.
Also my comment that scientific facts were undisputed facts. I also wrote if everyone were rhizome pruning and containing it...where are all the rhizomes
going ? That too was deleted. I think the subject has been exhausted here.
Let's wait and see . I am sure Councilwoman Kathy Walsh is aware of the
magnitude of the problem. I do hope she reads the post. I have sent some emails.
Brookhaven seems to understand the Genus: Phyllostachys , it is listed as invasive on a town invasive listing. I can post that later. If you need info. let me know how
to reach you. Do know the longer the invasion continues, the harder and more expensive it will be to eradicate. Chemicals unfortunately wll kill all desirable plants, especially if it rains and it disperses. The soil also may not be able to sustain plants for some time.

I had one of my yards full of J. Knotweed (6000sf). As you know it is everywhere and flowers every year. If you ever tried to remove it you would know how deep, thick and complicated the root system is. there was no information on how to remove it at the time and chemicals don't, plus they are very bad. I decided to cut it to ground level and put down grass seed. Because your mowing your new grass you also exhaust the rhizomes trying to send up shoots. the same thing works on places where you don't want grass. Just keep the shoots at ground level. Well now you say "What does this have to do with Bamboo". First of all , you may never see Bamboo flower in your lifetime. The rhizomes are so shallow they can be pruned if you choose to and pulled out of the ground without much effort, unlike J Knotweed. With the right responsibility, it can be controlled so easy. I shouldn't have to be told what and where to plant on my land.ffffffffffffffffff

http://www.kmc.nsw.gov.au/resources/documents/bamboo2.pdf

I am not going to post too much here at one time. Start with this , and read it.
This is enough for today.

You cant mow over mature yellow groove bamboo stumps , here is the video.The law was passed a while back: Take a look. Rhizomes are backhoe work. It is getting exhausting to post to correct the wrong statements. Watch the video, those are yellow groove stumps. A mature grove has very thick and deep rhizomes. Backhoe.
This video loads after a short commercial.
http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/video/#!/news/weird/Bamboo-Battle-in-Pa--Town/127904308

I have reset the flag count to restore many of the lost comments. At the same time, I have decided to close comments on this since all sides have been heard and legitimate opinions are being flagged in abuse of our system.