Bamboo · 4 min read
If running bamboo has started coming up through your lawn, patio or fence line, the first question is usually what it will cost to get rid of it. There is no honest single figure. Every garden is different, and the price depends on what is happening below ground. This guide explains what drives the cost, why a proper survey matters, and how to avoid paying twice.
Why there is no one-size-fits-all price
Most of a bamboo plant is out of sight. Running bamboo spreads through underground stems called rhizomes, which can travel well beyond the visible canes. Two gardens with stands that look the same can need very different amounts of work once the rhizome network is mapped. That is why we price after a free in-person survey, not from a guess over the phone.
The main factors that affect bamboo removal cost
1. How far the rhizomes have spread
The size of the visible stand is only a starting point. What matters is how far the rhizomes have travelled, how deep they sit and whether they have run under paths, decking, sheds or boundaries.
2. Access to the area
Where a mini digger can get in, larger areas can be excavated more efficiently. Tight side returns, steps or back gardens with no vehicle access mean more work by hand. Both approaches work. They just take different amounts of time.
3. Hard landscaping and structures
Rhizomes under patios, paths, decking or tarmac may mean lifting and reinstating surfaces. Bamboo near walls, foundations, drains and services has to be dealt with carefully, and services are checked before any digging.
4. Waste volume and disposal
Excavated bamboo and rhizome-laden soil has to go somewhere. On our jobs, soils are screened on site to reduce what leaves the garden, and waste is removed by a registered waste carrier.
5. Whether you also need a root barrier
If the bamboo is coming from next door, or you want to keep part of a stand, a root barrier along the boundary may be part of the solution. That adds materials and trenching, but it is often what stops the problem coming back.
6. Monitoring after the work
Any rhizome left behind can send up new shoots. Follow-up monitoring visits are part of doing the job properly, and they are included with our work.
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What should a bamboo removal quote include?
When you compare quotes, check that each one covers the same things. A cheap price that leaves rhizomes in the ground is not a saving. Ask whether the quote includes:
- Full excavation of the stand and the rhizomes, not just cutting the canes down
- Soil screening for stray rhizome fragments
- Waste removal by a registered waste carrier
- Reinstatement: back-filling and leaving the ground safe and level
- Monitoring visits after the work
- A written guarantee, and how long it lasts
- Whether the price is fixed and whether VAT is included
Our quotations are fixed price, plus VAT, with no hidden fees or subscriptions. Every job includes a minimum 5-year guarantee, available for up to 20 years, with a guarantee certificate and a management plan.
Can I remove bamboo myself to save money?
Small, young clumps can sometimes be dug out by a determined homeowner. Established running bamboo is a different matter. The rhizomes are tough and woody, and fragments left in the soil can regrow. Cutting canes to the ground does not kill the plant and can encourage new shoots. If you try it yourself, dig out as much rhizome as you can and keep an eye on the area for new growth. Our guide to neighbour's bamboo coming into your garden covers boundary problems.
How to get an accurate price
The quickest way is to book a free survey. We visit in person, identify the species, check how far it has spread and send you a written report with photos and a fixed price quotation. If you want a first opinion before that, send us a photo through the enquiry form or on WhatsApp. Find out more on our bamboo removal page.
Defence Discount Service & Blue Light Card members receive 10% off any quote for invasive plant controls.
Frequently asked questions
How much does bamboo removal cost?
It depends on how far the rhizomes have spread, access, hard landscaping, waste volume and whether a root barrier is needed. We give a fixed price, plus VAT, after a free in-person survey.
Is the survey really free?
Yes. We visit in person, identify the species and send you a written report with photos and a fixed price quotation, with no obligation. Formal CSJK (Certified Surveyor of Japanese Knotweed) survey reports, which confirm whether invasive plants are present (for example for a property sale or mortgage), are £240 (£200 + VAT).
Does cutting bamboo down kill it?
No. Cutting the canes leaves the rhizomes alive in the soil, and they will usually send up new shoots.
Is there a guarantee?
Yes. Every job includes a minimum 5-year guarantee, available for up to 20 years, with a guarantee certificate and a management plan.
Related articles
- Running vs clumping bamboo, and when you need a root barrier
- Your neighbour's bamboo is coming into your garden: what can you do?
- Japanese knotweed: herbicide treatment vs excavation
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Not sure what is growing in your garden? Send us a photo and we will tell you what it is and what we would recommend, free and with no obligation. Or book a free in-person survey with a written report and a fixed price quotation.