DOVER, Del.- The city of Dover might ban the planting of new bamboo and be more aggressive when it comes to overgrown bamboo.
Dover Planning & Inspections Director Ann Marie Townshend said bamboo is an invasive species to Delaware and puts hardships on the neighbors of bamboo growers.
"No matter what a property owner does on their property, if it's spreading from their neighbors property, they're going to be constantly fighting it," Townshend said.
Harvey Fenimore grows bamboo in his yard and says the plant is not any more difficult than other greenery.
"Even the most quote aggressive bamboos, the running bamboos are easily controllable, in terms of when they exceed the perimeter," he said.
To deal with the bamboo issue, Dover City Council will be considering an amendment that will ban the planting of new bamboo and give the city the authority to take action if someone is not taking care of the bamboo.
"We would require that the owner remove the bamboo at their expense and do it in a way that will ensure it won't grow back," Townshend said. "And if the owner doesn't do that, then the city would do that and bill the owner."
