Eradicating bamboo

Pilot · Jul 26, 2006

A friend has bamboo around his deck. It spreads very aggresively and he can't seem to get rid of it. Has tried Roundup to no avail. Don't know what time of year he used the Roundup or if he used a surfactant.

Anyway, how do you get rid of bamboo?

HappyCPE · Jul 26, 2006

Roundup won't work.
You have to dig it all up [PITA] or cut it down every time you see a shoot for a long time [also PITA].
For a longer explanation:
http://www.americanbamboo.org/GeneralInfoPages/ControllingBamboo.html
Or maybe the Chinese will loan you a hungry panda?

gws · Jul 27, 2006

Why get rid of it, harvest it, sell it. Have a local zoo?

chucko · Jul 28, 2006

he will have to move

goaliedad · Jul 28, 2006

just tell my wife it is a very exotic plant and is really neat- it will wilt and die with in a week!

Paddy · Jul 30, 2006

How big an area? In the past when I had small areas that brush would keep coming back I would cut it off at ground level. Cover with heavy carpet and bury with 8" bark mulch. If it's a big area, dig it out with your tractor.

Wannafish · Jul 31, 2006

I found out (the hard way) the reason Round Up doesn't work.
Round Up is actually a fertilizer...a zery hot fertilizer...and Bamboo thrives on it.
Only way to get rid of it is as HappyCPE said. Dig it up - and any bits of root that break off will come back double the next year.

RHughes · Jul 31, 2006

Digging, cutting down, and lots of persistence are the only things I can suggest. If he would be satisfied with containing it, he can try driving galvanized roof flashing down around the area. That shold effectively stop the roots from spreading. I've seen that used on bamboo and river cane patches that are maintained as ornamentals.

HappyCPE · Jul 31, 2006

RHughes, the only thing wrong with galvanized is that it will eventually rust. Bamboo lives 100 years or more and the galvanized time horizon just isn't that long. The best sheetmetal barrier would be aluminum. Al or plastic is usually what bamboo nurseries recommend. Either that, or plant a "clumping" or non-spreading variety.

ToadHill · Aug 1, 2006

Go to Forestry supply .com and look for Garlon. It's a product used to control unwanted growth in forests. It will kill a tree up to 8" in diameter if sprayed around the bottom 18" of the trunk. I've never tried it on bamboo but it works very well on beech and striped maple.