Ban-boo: Hempstead Town Adopts Bamboo Ban

The Hempstead Town Board unanimously adopted legislation at Tuesday's board meeting that will stem the planting, growing or maintaining of bamboo plants on local properties in the township.

Town officials are responding to the complaints of residents who have had to deal with invasive bamboo encroaching on their properties from adjoining parcels.

According to the town, in recent months, many residents have displayed evidence of damaged tree roots, pipes, sidewalks and even foundations as a result of out-of-control bamboo growth. The root structure found in many types of bamboo tends to expand horizontally, making the plant difficult to maintain and more likely to cause damage to its surrounding area than other types of plants.

Residents have documented bamboo roots migrating from neighboring properties and literally sprouting through and cracking garage floors, sidewalks and driveways. For some homeowners, the damage has cost them thousands of dollars to remediate.

However, not everyone agrees with the Town's decision. A worker at decried the decision to ban bamboo, stating that it's currently a regular fixture in their shop.

"I don't understand the decision at all...bamboo is beautiful," the worker said. "We use it in a lot of our arrangements. I can't believe that it's causing so much trouble in the outdoors that it had to be banned."

This law will be enforced by the Town of Hempstead Department of Sanitation. If residents have a complaint about bamboo plants encroaching on their properties, they are urged to call the department at (516) 378-4210.