How to Get Rid of Bamboo

Sometimes too much of a good thing is simply too much. Such is the case with invasive bamboo. Although some people say it's impossible to get rid of bamboo completely, you will be grateful to have these tricks up your sleeve.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Clear Plastic Sheeting
• Lopping Shears
• glyphosate herbicide
• high nitrogen fertilizer
• spade
• mattock

1. Dig up unwanted bamboo using a mattock and spade. The pointed mattock will help loosen the tangled rhizomes from the soil and the spade will lift them from the ground. Except in unusual circumstances, bamboo rhizomes do not grow deep in the soil.

2. Use lopping shears to cut through thick rhizomes. Make sure to remove every bit of rhizome or the bamboo will come back stronger than before.

3. Starve plants to death by cutting off all new growth before it reaches 2 feet in height. Bamboo needs to photosynthesize, just like any other plant. Inhibit its ability to do so and the plant will eventually die. Be persistent! This method may take more than one year.

4. Pour straight glyphosate herbicide directly onto freshly cut stumps. Systemic herbicides are favored over contact killers in the removal of bamboo. Keep in mind that once the plants are dead, you still have to dig them out of the ground. They are much easier to dig when alive.

5. Solarize the enemy. Cut the bamboo to the ground, spread a thick layer of high nitrogen (lawn) fertilizer over the entire area, and cover with clear plastic sheeting. Secure the plastic sheeting along the edges with bricks or boards. This technique is best used during the hottest part of summer and will literally cook the bamboo in the ground. Leave the plastic in place until all signs of life have been extinguished.

Tips & Warnings

• Plant clumping varieties of bamboo, not running (rhizome) types. Clumping bamboo is much easier to control.
• Take your time, this is hard work.
• Use any or all of these methods to control unwanted bamboo.
• Do not compost bamboo. It will only make it mad. Even the smallest piece of rhizome will grow if given the slightest opportunity.

[bake4u]

on 3/24/2008 yep you're right that bamboo, i've worked 2 days on it i'm going to try your method later in the summer but for now i will cut a 2ft until summer, its a mess i bought a home that has it and its a big job just cleared some out, i got 3 of them by the roots, will that grow back, those roots are hard too thanks for this article i've been trying to find out about bamboo but here in Alabama not to many people know anything about bamboo thanks again