
Bamboo was taking over my garden & had me fearing for my house – until a cheap buy from The Range got rid of it for good
Posting in the Gardening on a Budget Official Facebook group, one frustrated woman explained how her partner's garden had been completely
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A gardener turned to Facebook after having their garden overun by bamboo
Credit: Facebook/ Gardening on a budget official
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People recommended The Range's Roundup Tree Stump and Rootkiller
Credit: The range
She described it as 'solid' ground and saying 'there's so much of it' they didn't know where to start.
But thankfully, green-fingered Brits rallied around to offer tried-and-tested advice and one product kept cropping up as the
Gardeners recommended the Roundup Tree Stump and Root Killer, which retails at £18.99 from
The powerful weedkiller is specially designed to target tough, woody plants and it seems bamboo doesn't stand a chance.
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Read more on gardening tips
One user swore by the stuff, commenting: 'I used this on mine. It took a few months, but it's gone and never came back.'
Another backed it up, adding: 'It's brilliant stuff. The Roundup kills it – best time is when it stops growing in October or November.'
The product's official description says it's a 'non-selective, translocated weedkiller' that travels throughout the plant and root system.
It tackles everything from tree stumps to nettles, ivy and invasive bamboo.
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Most read in Fabulous
It's absorbed by leaves or freshly cut surfaces and works both above and below ground.
Once it hits the soil, microbes break it down, meaning it's safe to replant in treated areas.
6 Reasons Bamboo May Not Be Ideal for Your British Garden
And for gardeners dealing with full-blown
One poor user shared: 'I get invaded by my
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"My garden is tiered because of sloping, and the roots even disturbed and knocked off the boards on the bottom tier.'
She revealed the stubborn plant caused 'numerous shoots coming up on my lawn', adding: 'It took weeks. I still get the odd shoot popping up and as soon as I see it, I'm on it.'
Others chimed in with more
boiling water
over shoots to kill them off, though most agreed that Roundup offered a long-term fix with minimal fuss.
With its ability to take down even notorious intruders like
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So if bamboo is creeping into your space and boiling water just won't cut it, this £18.99 could be the price of peace and quiet in your garden.
As one user put it: 'It's the only thing that worked and trust me, I tried everything.'
How to prevent bamboo from taking over your garden
For those that are still tempted to add bamboo to their garden, there is a way that you can
Rather than simply planting a smaller patch, green-fingered influencer
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In a recent Instagram reel, he advised his followers: 'Basically, you dig a trench [and] you put this [the bamboo barrier], leave it sticking out a little bit.'
According to the gardening whizz, this will stop any shoots and rhizomes from spreading through the soil.
If you already have a bamboo plant in your garden, you can also use the same method by placing the plastic barrier around your existing patch.
How to get rid of invasive bamboo
IF you have a bamboo that has got out of hand, you may wish to eradicate it completely.
Cultural control
Non-chemical methods involve digging out clumps of bamboo and restricting the size.
This can be difficult with very large plants, or on heavy soil. Use a sharp spade to dig up the entire clump or to remove sections from the edge of the clump that have grown beyond the limits. Sever rhizomes as you go, lifting and removing them with a fork or trowel.
Weedkiller control
When invasive plants are a threat to biodiversity and gardeners struggle to control them with cultural methods, targeted use of regulated weedkillers may be an option.
Garden centres and large retailers selling weedkillers have trained staff who can advise on suitable products for your needs.
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The Irish Sun
12 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
My retired neighbour's tree has grown under our walls & through the ceiling – I've tried cutting it but it's relentless
A FRUSTRATED homeowner has revealed that his retired neighbour's tree is so big, it has grown under his walls and through his ceiling. Not only is it Advertisement 2 A homeowner has shared his frustration at his neighbour's "relentless" tree Credit: Reddit 2 Not only is the tree "tall and overgrown," but now it's "causing major problems" Credit: Reddit Unsure on what to do, the anonymous man, who is from the United States, took to social media, desperate for advice. Posting on Reddit, on the Furious with the situation, the man titled his post 'My neighbour's yard is causing major problems. Best thing to do?' He then got candid on the situation and explained: 'So our neighbour is an old retired veteran. He's renting the home. He doesn't own the house. We don't have the owner's contact info. Advertisement Read more neighbour stories 'The main problem is the tree and its canopy of vines and branches that drape over their shed, which is placed way too close to our house. 'Another tree is also sandwiched between the 'It's so tall and overgrown. A tree growing in between the shed and our house had large branches that grew over the roof.' The man explained that he previously got up on his roof with an electric saw, eager to remove the branches. Advertisement Most read in Fabulous He added: 'The insurance company said we needed the branches off, or they'd stop insuring us. 'I am so fed up with this.' Moment mystery 'neighbour from hell' stuffs POO through letterbox & smears paint stripper over cars in 'calculated' plot But that's not all, as he also shared that last year, he went in between the shed and the house and clipped 'a ton of shrubbery and foliage.' He stressed: 'I cleared it the best I can, but the problem is relentless and will always continue as long as this canopy continues to drape over that shed with the damned tree growing into the side of our house next to it. Advertisement We don't want beef with the homeowner, but I am fed up with this Reddit poster 'They grow insanely fast. It's a ton of work, just for it to spring right back up. 'The canopy of vines drapes from over the shed, above our fence, and spreads all over the fence in the backyard.' And that's not the worst of it, as he then shared: 'It is devouring an area in the back yard as it drapes over the sunroom. 'It's gotten so bad that roots and vines from the Advertisement The Top Five Reasons Neighbours Squabble One study by Compare the Market revealed the top reason British neighbour's argue Broken fences - top of the board was broken fences and whose responsibility it was to fix it Parking: one of the leading drivers of neighbour disputes, with 54.1 per cent of people having issues with people parking in front of their house, parking bay or driveway Trees - complaints about a neighbour's tree cracking your garden path was also common with nearly half of participants finding it frustrating Bin wars - outdoor bin etiquette continues to ignite the most furious debates between neighbours Nosy Neighbours - some people have their eyes and ears at the ready to have a peek causing problems for others Unsure on how to proceed, he expressed: 'I am thinking about reporting this to the city. What would you do in this situation? 'We don't want beef with the homeowner, but I am fed up with this. 'This problem could be gone forever if they would have a giant tree removed, and get rid of the shed too. 'We would be able to remove the tree and then we wouldn't have to worry about a Advertisement Reddit users react Reddit users were left stunned by the man's post and eagerly raced to the comments to share their advice on how to proceed. One person said: 'Call the city, if they rent, that's on the owner.' Another added: 'This should be on the homeowner not the renter…Call him and work to have him clean his property. Best of luck.' He's your neighbour and it looks like he could use some help. Try not to make his life any harder than it already is Reddit user Whilst a third commented: 'Report it to code enforcement. This qualifies as overgrown vegetation. The inspector will come out, take photos and inform the owner of the issue.' Advertisement However, at the same time, many urged the user to 'help' his 'He's your A second agreed: 'I would ask if he needs help.' Meanwhile, someone else recommended: 'Just knock on the door, take a step back, so they know you mean no harm, introduce yourself, and ask if you can offer a hand with the yardwork. Do it little by little, until it's good to go. Rome wasn't built in a day.' Advertisement Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme - Sun Club


Irish Times
a day ago
- Irish Times
Dating in your late-30s? Frozen eggs and more will be on the menu
'Just so you know, I've frozen my eggs .' She delicately perched herself on the chair opposite, just as the waiter handed us the menus. I took a quick scan to see if I was missing something. Were frozen eggs on the menu? At the time, I hadn't been on a date in more than eight years. I was just turning 30. Yes, dating apps and the internet existed back then, kids, but what had developed since was a whole new world of etiquette, games, language, and coded behaviours that I was about to be submerged in without a life jacket, trying not to drown. Dating in your late-30s? Frozen eggs and more will be on the menu. Let me be clear: I didn't want to be out there dating again. My five-year relationship had ended – we tried, but it was done – and I started dating out of pure panic. Who would date me? A single father, a stand-up comedian, still sharing a home with his ex? Take a number for that queue ladies. READ MORE My first date, I thought, went well. A quick drink before my gig, nice chats, cool vibes. I closed the date with what I believed was the obvious line: 'I'd like to do this again'. The scrunched-up look on her face still cuts me to the bone: 'You'll probably want to play the field first.' What did that mean? Surely if there's an attraction, we meet again, no? Later that night, the text arrived: 'I just don't want to be your first one back'. It seemed like if I tried, I was doing it wrong, and if I tried to be open and not try, I was still doing it wrong. One date took place in a park. Takeaway coffees, tight schedules – just a 30-minute hello. I left thinking: there's no way we can know anything about each other in 30 minutes. How wrong I was. In that half-hour, she had determined I wasn't ready for a long-term relationship or to have more children within two years. She was on a schedule and I didn't make the cut according to the WhatsApp essay I received the next morning. Bear in mind: we didn't even know each other's surnames. [ 'I was overheard saying my date wasn't very good-looking. Now he's blocking me' Opens in new window ] I did, however, meet some amazing people. And while it's not the official point of dating, I've made some brilliant friends. Some of the biggest laughs came from evenings with a fellow single parent. There's nothing like bonding over shared trauma after sneaking out of the home she still shared with her ex, so we can sip non-alcoholic beers, talk about parenting, Bluey, and how we don't understand why people hate their own children. And then there were the others – evenings of intimacy with some like-minded creative type, someone who got you the second they kissed you. They carried your heart, told you there was nothing wrong with you – before vanishing back to wherever they came from. 'The men don't help themselves. I've seen the profiles: Leitrim jersey; balaclava; holding a fish.' Photograph: Getty Images Of course, there are the truly embarrassing moments. Like driving home late from a gig in Galway when someone I'd never met in person messages: 'House is free, it's my birthday, I've chosen you'. So, at 2am, I'm dropped off on a road, 'could be fun, dude,' says my driver. Ten minutes later, I am pacing around an estate in the rain while her messages have stopped. How do I explain this to a Garda convinced I am not scoping out a house to rob? Taxi, home. The next morning: a flood of texts. Expletives, apologies. She'd fallen asleep. What woke her? The candles she'd lit had set the curtain on fire. She woke up in the smoke and had to put out the flames. Then: 'Are you free tonight?' Followed by her anger at my rejection: 'You can't be serious – that's it?' I get it. Women are scarred by men's behaviour. Many dating conversations were spent listening to stories of ghosting, or about the latest post on the Facebook page Are We Dating the Same Guy? where women post who they're seeing to see if there are any red flags. And the men don't help themselves. I've seen the profiles: Leitrim jersey; balaclava; holding a fish. If not, they can't seem to keep their tops on. No wonder 'the ick' exists. That said, women have their quirks too. Profiles that read like job descriptions: 'You better be able to make me laugh and be emotionally available'. Pick one. Also, loving dogs is not a personality. Neither is wellness. Or yoga. Or your gym pics. [ Online dating: 'Irish people are terrible on the apps' Opens in new window ] Don't worry, I know I'm the problem. Being a comedian doesn't exactly scream stable, grounded individual gliding calmly through life. That's why we do what we do. Does it sting when someone you liked ends up engaged to an accountant? Yes. But also, no. I can't change who I am. And who I am is complicated. 'Do you feel the need to be funny all the time?' is a common date question. The answer? No. I get paid to do that. And sorry if I'm not funny on the date. That guy you saw on stage? I created him. He comes out when I want. I also hear: 'I have to be careful what I say now or you'll use it in your act'. The ego behind that? That you'll say something so genius I'll scrap decades of work just to fit it into my set? Not to mention that I've yet to be on a date with anyone who is funnier than my seven year old. Let me be clear: nothing anyone has ever said to me has made it into my act. However, it may end up in a column.


The Irish Sun
a day ago
- The Irish Sun
The little-known reason Scots should love BATS and why they're a lifesaver in the garden this summer
KING Charles is to provide a new home for bats at his Scottish mansion so work can go ahead. Surveys found evidence of potential roosting sites after he applied for permission to build a luxury wedding venue in Dumfries House near Cumnock, Ayrshire, where bat boxes have now been installed in the grounds of the A-listed building. 4 The common pipistrelle is having to fight for survival. 4 A cloud of dreaded midges, that can blight any summer event. 4 Dr Joe Nunez-Mino is one of the UK's top bat experts. But The King isn't the only one to be left in a flap over bats with a £100million 'bat tunnel' also constructed for the controversial HS2 rail line in Buckinghamshire. Chief Features Writer MATT BENDORIS speaks to a top conservationist about why we need to help these nocturnal flying mammals. DOCTOR Joe Nunez-Mino has many reasons why a thriving bat population is good for the environment but one should endear them to Scots more than others - their voracious appetite for midges. As the biting insects continue to cause havoc at family barbecues and day-trips this summer, the one thing helping to keep them at bay are Scotland's airborne mammals. And Dr Joe from the Bat Conservation Trust insists that our nine species of resident bats help in many other ways too. He said: 'We can only estimate but we do know bats eat a lot of insects, each individual bat eating hundreds or even thousands (of midges) every night. 'Different bat species specialise in eating different insects, from biting insects like midges through to moths, including some insects that damage crops and gardens. 'To give one example, a study published last year estimated that bats in apple orchards reduce the total weight of apples damaged by codling moths by 50 per cent.' Most read in Fabulous In the UK all bat species and their roosts are legally protected by both European legislation and domestic laws including Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations (2017). But since the Wildlife and Countryside Act of 1981 it has been a criminal offence to disturb a structure or place bats use for shelter or protection. 'He is spooked' - Moment The Open commentator hides under his jacket as BAT invades broadcasting booth at Portrush It means DIY and commercial builders have to carry out expensive bat surveys costing several thousands - or more if the mammals are found and need to be removed. Dr Joe said: 'There is a cost associated with protecting the environment just like there is with health and safety or protecting historical heritage. 'While we as an organisation don't have any control or influence on the costs of bat surveys, we have worked with some Statutory Nature Conservation Organisations (SNCO) to streamline the process where possible. 'To avoid delays, it's important to take bats into account from the earliest stages of planning work.' He adds: 'Having a bat roost does not prevent developing a property, bats just need to be taken into account as part of the process. Householders should seek advice from their SNCO.' However Dr Joe believes that bats get a bad press including the 1km long bat tunnel in Buckinghamshire that added an extra £100million to the runaway cost of the HS2 rail line. He said: 'We were not involved in the process. However, we do know that multiple cross-party inquiries have found that HS2's delays and cost overruns stem from mismanagement, not nature protections. 'HS2 did not carry out a timely strategic environmental assessment which could have identified viable alternatives that could have avoided significant expenditure and delay.' While in 2002 Scottish wildlife artist David McRae, 56, from Tayside, died from rabies after being bitten by a bat - it was the first case of indigenous rabies in the UK in 100 years. Dr Joe said: 'Two rabies-related viruses have been detected in two bat species in the UK and in only a very small number of individuals. 'If someone is bitten, licked, nipped or scratched by a bat they should wash and disinfect the area and urgently seek medical treatment. 'The NHS has said prompt post-exposure vaccinations have been 100 per cent effective in preventing the disease.' But Dr Joe believes that work done by organisations like his and the stringent laws are helping bats, which have been in decline, to slowly make a recovery. BATS HAVE DELAYED HOUSE DEMOLITION BUT I STILL WANT TO PROTECT THEM LAST March my wife and I bought an uninhabitable bungalow on Scotland's West Coast and wanted to pull it down before it fell down and replace it with a shiny new build. But 16 months on there hasn't even been a spade in the ground because late on in the planning process it was suddenly announced we needed a bat survey. The problem was by the time we were informed last year, the flying mammals would be hibernating for the winter and a dusk survey - with infrared cameras and sound equipment - couldn't be carried out until the spring. In the end we didn't have any roosting bats, but it has added a £1,800 bill to the project we hadn't budgeted for. Someone else in the area wasn't so lucky and it cost them £5,000 to have their bats removed by an ecologist. But surely with all the technology now available there has to be a quicker - and far cheaper - way of checking where they are roosting, so people can get on with their projects? And when I do finally get my new house built any neighbourhood bats are more than welcome to come and live rent free. He explains: 'All bat species have suffered historical declines in population numbers but we have seen signs of initial recovery in some species. 'We are currently able to monitor five of the nine resident bat species in Scotland through the National Bat Monitoring Program. 'Of these five, four species - Daubenton's bat, Natterer's bat, common pipistrelle and brown long-eared bat - show no significant change since the base line year of 1999 and one species has increased - soprano pipistrelle. 'Bat conservation is important because they are a vital part of our natural heritage which make up around a quarter of our mammal species and they also play a critical role in the ecosystem. 'There is very good evidence that bat populations help to reduce the need for pesticides which ultimately harms the health of other wildlife and people too.' Read more on the Irish Sun He adds: 'Scotland would have a lot more midges and other insects without them.' *For more information on the Bat Conservation Trust visit 4 Soprano Pipistrelle bat numbers are showing signs of recovery.