Privacy Hedges Using Bamboo: Benefits, Risks, and Responsible Use
Bamboo has long been used to create dense, evergreen privacy hedges due to its rapid growth, natural screening ability, and year-round foliage. When installed correctly and in the right environment, bamboo can form an effective visual barrier that grows taller and fuller much faster than traditional hedge plants.
However, bamboo is not a “set it and forget it” solution. Its underground growth habits require careful planning, long-term management, and a clear understanding of local regulations. For this reason, bamboo privacy hedges are only appropriate in specific site conditions and should always be installed by professionals who specialize in bamboo.
The Benefits of Bamboo as a Privacy Hedge
When used responsibly, bamboo offers several advantages as a privacy hedge. It grows quickly, allowing homeowners to achieve screening in a fraction of the time required by most shrubs or trees. Bamboo is naturally evergreen, providing year-round privacy, and is generally deer resistant.
Bamboo can also be maintained at a specific height through trimming, which encourages denser leaf growth along lower branches and creates a fuller, more uniform hedge. In open spaces, bamboo hedges can be shaped to appear formal or natural, depending on the desired aesthetic.
These benefits are why bamboo was widely planted for privacy in past decades — often before the long-term implications of unmanaged growth were fully understood.
When Bamboo Privacy Hedges Can Be Appropriate
NJ Bamboo Landscaping will only assist with bamboo privacy hedges when very specific criteria are met.
Bamboo hedges are best suited for open areas that are clear of mature trees, underground utilities, and large subsurface rock formations. The soil must allow for proper excavation so that a continuous, heavy-duty rhizome barrier can be installed without interruption.
Bamboo should not be planted near fence lines, property boundaries, foundations, or wooded edges where containment is difficult or impossible to maintain long-term. Adequate access must be available for future inspection and maintenance of the barrier system.
Most importantly, bamboo privacy hedges must be fully encapsulated within a professionally installed rhizome barrier. Partial containment or informal barriers are not sufficient and almost always lead to spread outside the intended area.
Education and Long-Term Maintenance Are Required
Responsible bamboo planting requires an informed homeowner. Even when properly contained, bamboo is a living system that needs to be monitored and maintained. Homeowners must be willing to inspect barrier edges, manage new growth, and address any issues early.
As part of any bamboo hedge consultation, we ensure that homeowners fully understand how bamboo grows, how containment systems function, and what long-term care involves. Bamboo is only appropriate when the homeowner is comfortable with this responsibility.
Understanding Bamboo Ordinances and Regulations
Many towns and municipalities now have bamboo ordinances in place. It’s important to note that an ordinance does not always mean bamboo is completely prohibited. In many cases, regulations outline specific guidelines that must be followed, such as containment requirements, setback distances, or maintenance standards.
If bamboo is still permitted in your town and you are confident it is the right solution for your property, NJ Bamboo Landscaping can help guide you through local regulations. When required, we can assist with permit applications and ensure that any bamboo hedge installation is compliant with municipal guidelines.
When Bamboo Is Not the Right Choice
In many situations, bamboo is simply not appropriate — especially on smaller properties, near shared boundaries, or in areas with limited access for excavation. In these cases, attempting to install bamboo often creates future problems rather than solving privacy concerns.
We regularly work with homeowners who inherited bamboo hedges from previous owners or had bamboo installed years ago before regulations were in place. When bamboo spreads beyond its intended area, professional containment or complete removal is often the only viable long-term solution.
Professional Bamboo Consultation, Containment, and Removal
NJ Bamboo Landscaping specializes exclusively in bamboo. While we no longer install bamboo privacy hedges in most municipalities, we do provide professional evaluations to determine whether bamboo is appropriate, whether containment is feasible, or whether removal is the best option.
Our goal is not to promote bamboo at all costs, but to provide honest guidance based on experience. When bamboo is the right solution and can be installed responsibly, we can help. When it is not, we will recommend safer, more sustainable alternatives.
If you are considering bamboo for privacy — or are dealing with an existing bamboo hedge — contact us for a professional evaluation to understand your options before making a decision.
If not planted properly bamboo privacy hedges can start to spread outside of their intended areas. It’s always important work with a contractors who knows how to responsibly plant bamboo and to check with all local, county, and state bamboo ordinances.
If you had a bamboo privacy hedge installed and its now running out of control. There are ways to recontain the bamboo. However if planted near fence lines or where equipment access is difficult sometimes the best solution is for a complete and guaranteed bamboo removal.
