Invasive Bamboo

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brunetmj Lowville, NY(Zone 4a) May 01, 2010

The previous owner of my house planted bamboo along one side of the house. I have found that killing bamboo seems
nearly impossible and it simply spreads every where. Roundup or other chemicals do nothing nor does digging it up
since it has a extensive root system.
Internet searches suggest pouring concrete over the entire area. I want to try something less extreme.
Last year I covered the entire area ( 6 ft by 20 ft) with about 6 inches of straw and then covered that with landscape fabric. The idea was to block out all light.
I also notice that in areas of my property where there is more competition it spreads far less.
What I thought I would try is uncover a portion of the covered bamboo and plant something that can compete with the bamboo. Then , once that area is established, uncover more area and plant the same species.
Would anyone suggest some flowering shrub or other type of plant with a root system that could compete? I am in zone 4b

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acedekon Stanwood, WA May 02, 2010

I've never had to deal with bamboo myself but have heard that digging out the entire area and hauling the soil off works.
or
crossbow is a poison for woody plants, may not be what you're looking for but here in the pacific northwest blackberries a the major problem weed and crossbow is the only thing that kills them, like bamboo blackberries spread uncontrollably. don't plan on growing anything where you've sprayed with crossbow for a year and like all poisons wear long sleeves and beware of windy days while spraying.

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brunetmj Lowville, NY(Zone 4a) May 03, 2010

Well thanks I will research that product and perhaps give it a try ..

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themoonhowl Prairieville, LA(Zone 9a) May 06, 2010

Brunetmj, here is some more info on control and eradication of bamboo.(a few sites from across the country and the UK)

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ag266

http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/Profile.aspx?pid=210

http://www.clemson.edu/extension/hgic/pests/weeds/hgic2320.html

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/chatham/ag/homehort/BambooControl.htm

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/Plantanswers/trees/bamboo.html

http://www.idigbamboo.com/

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brunetmj Lowville, NY(Zone 4a) May 10, 2010

Thanks for that information. I have tried most of the methods listed on those web sites but perhaps I wasn't consistent with it.
I may try some competition methods, that is growing plants like hosta along with mowing and pulling.

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themoonhowl Prairieville, LA(Zone 9a) May 11, 2010

You are welcome. I hope something there works for you. Consistent use of herbicide will eventually work also....good luck to you.

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wendallyn LA/Orange County, CA(Zone 10a) Aug 06, 2010

I recently moved to a house where my neighbor has bamboo and loves it. However it's ruining our fence and has hopped into our yard, crossed the driveway and is now in our lawn! I will try the repeated mowing and herbicide and hope that works- thanks for the forum on this one!

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