How to Kill and Get Rid of Bamboo

[@kateeveritt3292]

We have 2 small clumps of bamboo which have been in the ground for 20 years. Last summer it started to appear in next door’s garden and in our lawn about 8 feet distance from the clump. It’s runners are very close to the surface so not too difficult to remove, but it’s started to shoot up again and I feel we need to remove it. You’ve certainly given me some ideas Simon, but I couldn’t bring myself to use any of those horrible chemicals. Does boiling water and/or salt really work ? Kate.

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

Hi Kate, yes they will do but like I say in the video I wouldn't recommend. If the clumps are small i would use glysopate as it breaks down in contact with the soil, while a strong salt solution will prevent new plants from growing for a year, maybe two. The boiling water will kill what it touches but you won't know where all the roots are plus it's dangerous to handle. Simon

[@stephenkeeble6857]

Bamboo's aren't something i grow, if i were to tho think they'd either be in a pot or if ground planted would use a root barrier.

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

Yes these are two good ideas. However, bamboo generally grow poorly in pots as proven by every pot grown bamboo I have seen. Root barriers are far better, but I have yet to see one that has worked. I'm not saying there aren't ones that do work. The best bet is to purchase a non-root running species. They will be more expensive, but it's saves so much heartache. Thanks for your comment. Simon

[@montongarden]

You really need to do some research as you are way off with your facts! Aurea has a running rhizome but in most cases it is well behaved, the problem bamboo is aureosulcata! Using products where nothing can grow is great, not!

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

That is a bold statement, I would love to know what evidence you have, which states that aurea is not invasive under favourable growing conditions 🤔 . I assume you are not from the UK, where this is a well documented issue with this species. Perhaps you could also advise how to control a rampent running root system using an organic control method? I would be interested to hear your experience on this.

[@montongarden]

@@walkingtalkinggardeners I didn’t say aurea wasn’t invasive, I did say it has a running rhizome, there are far more invasive types and if anything is probably the most well behaved of the Phyllostachys I am from Manchester, which is very much in the uk, I have been growing bamboo for over thirty years and currently have around 40 types in my garden, including what is probably the biggest collection of rare Borindas in a private garden in the uk Ultimately, somebody planted the wrong plant in the wrong place and should have kept it in check or took precautions to stop it spreading. Solution is hard work or a lot of money

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

@montongarden I think you have missed the point of the video. It is called how to kill and get rid of bamboo. So i have listed all off the viable ways in which this can be done, including pointing out the pros and cons, techniques i would've recommended and explaining that you cannot use commercial herbicides without the required certification. The UK certification trains you in the safest and most responsible way to use herbicides. I, of course, have that certification. You may not like the answers i have given and have a moral issue with using commercial herbicides, but they do exist, they are a viable option and that doesn't make the information in this video wrong. Watch it again from the viewpoint of a typical gardener. Yes there are over 1400 recognised bamboo species and I imagine 70% are more invasive than phyllostachys aurea but what is the most readily available bamboo species in the UK which gardeners buy and have problems with? You guessed it - Phyllostachys aurea. If there are any genuine facts or practices in this video which are incorrect then let me know.

[@nicholasryan5401]

The only bamboo I have in my garden are bamboo canes staking the crocosmia lucifer and I would feel sorry for anyone who planted this plant in there garden.

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

I have to agree with you on this. Simon