Buzz
Bamboo may look visually appealing, but it's actually an invasive species. It's notoriously challenging to eradicate, no matter what method you choose. Fortunately, it's not impossible. Whether you use chemicals, organic substances, or mechanical methods, the key is to dig up the root stalks (the underground stems) and cut the bamboo canes. Of course, the best approach is to prevent bamboo from becoming a troublesome issue in the first place.
Note: According to the World Health Organization (WHO), glyphosate is a chemical that can cause cancer in humans. It has been banned in many countries. Please check local regulations and exercise caution when using it.
Steps
Eradicating bamboo with chemicals
Cut bamboo close to the ground and wait for new shoots to emerge. Before applying chemicals to the new bamboo leaves, you need to cut the bamboo down and wait for it to regrow. It may sound strange, but you have to let the shoots grow. Weed killers won’t work effectively if the bamboo stalks are already fully developed.
- Bamboo is quite resilient, though not overly tough. You should use garden shears, a tool resembling large scissors with small blades, as it cuts more effectively than a saw.
- Cut the bamboo at the end of winter so you can apply weed killers to target the new shoots in late spring or early summer.
Cut the bamboo's underground stems as soon as the new shoots begin to grow. Use a sharp spade (or another garden tool with a sharp blade) to cut the bamboo and sever its underground stems. The more nodes you can cut, the better.
- The underground stems form a root system that grows horizontally beneath the ground. These roots branch out into segments, from which new shoots will emerge when the bamboo is ready to grow.
- You might recognize these underground stems if you're familiar with ginger, turmeric, or galangal roots. Bamboo's underground stems resemble these roots in structure, with multiple buds.
Apply glyphosate weed killer to the leaves, stems, and new shoots of bamboo. Glyphosate weed killer only works on the parts of the bamboo it directly contacts. This means you need to be precise when spraying it—aim specifically at the bamboo. Most glyphosate-based weed killers require spraying on the leaves, stems, and shoots, allowing time for the chemical to absorb before it gets washed off by rain. Unless the label instructs otherwise, do not pour the glyphosate directly onto the ground around the bamboo, as this will be ineffective.
- To reduce the risk of accidentally killing other plants or overusing the herbicide, consider using a brush to apply the weed killer directly to the bamboo's leaves and stems instead of spraying.
- If you're near a water source (river, lake, etc.), make sure to use herbicides specifically designed for use around water. You wouldn't want to contaminate nearby water areas.
Alternatively, use chemicals to target the bamboo's roots and base. Another approach to eliminating bamboo is to cut the stalks, then use herbicides containing glyphosate or triclopyr to spray the leaves of regrowing shoots and the cut roots of the bamboo.
Repeat the process. One treatment won’t fully eradicate bamboo's invasion. Bamboo is resilient and spreads like wildfire—so persistent that even a forest fire can't completely wipe it out! As bamboo continues to sprout new shoots, you'll need to keep applying herbicide to the leaves, stems, and shoots to ensure effective control.
- When using any herbicide, always read the instructions on the packaging carefully. Some directions may differ significantly from the advice provided here. Follow the manufacturer's instructions when necessary.
- It’s also a good idea to combine herbicide application with the method of cutting the underground stems, preventing the bamboo from continuing to sprout.
Non-Chemical Bamboo Removal
Digging up bamboo plants. This is one of the methods to eliminate bamboo without using chemicals. Use a hoe, pickaxe, or saw with a sharp blade to cut and dig up the bamboo plants. Like any other method, this one requires vigilance and ongoing effort to remove the bamboo stems (culms) and rhizomes (the underground stems).
- You need to cut off the bamboo clusters but also remove the rhizomes. If not, this persistent plant will regrow. The rhizomes of bamboo grow about 30 cm under the ground, so you’ll have to dig down to locate them.
- While digging, be sure to sever the rhizomes, especially if you want to keep some bamboo plants. This will prevent new shoots from emerging.
- Continue cutting and digging up the bamboo. You may need to do this for months or even years, as bamboo is an invasive and tenacious plant.
- If you want to eliminate bamboo from your garden, you must remove the entire rhizome system.
Frequent lawnmower use. Similar to grass, bamboo can tolerate occasional mowing, but it doesn’t fare well with frequent trimming. This method can reduce the number of bamboo stems, especially when dealing with young plants that haven’t yet developed large stalks (it may be difficult to use a mower on fully-grown bamboo stalks unless you trim them first).
- Mowing can also decrease the number of rhizomes by preventing them from absorbing nutrients through photosynthesis.
- You will need to mow every time you see bamboo shoots emerging, as this process can be time-consuming.
Cut off the plant’s nutrient supply. Another way to get rid of bamboo is by “starving” the plant. Start by cutting down the bamboo stems below the surface, then cover the area with dark tarps or thick plastic sheets. This method blocks rain, sunlight, and air, eventually causing the bamboo to die.
- Secure the tarp or plastic sheeting. People often use cinder blocks to hold down the tarp, but any sufficiently heavy object will do. Ensure that the tarp or plastic is not lifted, as the goal is to prevent the bamboo from interacting with the weather elements.
- If you spot new shoots emerging outside the tarp, quickly spray them with herbicide containing triclopyr, or cut them off and place more cinder blocks or a second layer of tarp over the area.
- Like the other methods, this one will take some time. You’ll need to cover the area for at least a month (it could take up to a year to completely eliminate bamboo).
Isolating bamboo plants
Building an open barrier. Dig a curved or semicircular trench around the bamboo. For maximum effectiveness, the barrier should be at least 70 cm deep, as most rhizomes will not reach this depth. The advantage of an open barrier is that it limits the bamboo’s root spread within the enclosed area, while ensuring proper drainage for the plant. You can place the barrier along a fence or boundary to prevent bamboo from invading your neighbor’s yard and vice versa.
- If you prefer, you can build the barrier from concrete, metal, or plastic. Any of these materials will work well. Note that rhizomes can grow through wood, so wood is not a suitable material for the barrier.
- A highly effective and widely used material is high-density polypropylene plastic—1mm thick or more. Bamboo-specific barriers usually cost around 200,000 to 250,000 VND per meter, depending on the material and thickness.
- If you plan to install the barrier along a fence, ensure it protrudes about 5 cm above the ground.
- With an open barrier, you will need to trim the bamboo roots annually to limit the plant’s growth.
Installing a solid barrier. Similar to the open barrier, a solid barrier needs to be at least 60-90 cm deep. Unlike the open barrier, a solid barrier completely surrounds the bamboo, preventing the rhizomes from escaping. The main advantage of this method is clear – the bamboo will be entirely isolated, but you can still monitor the rhizomes.
- As with the open barrier, ensure that the barrier protrudes at least 5 cm above the ground to allow you to detect any rhizomes attempting to escape the barrier.
Consider using a pond or stream to separate the bamboo on one side. If done correctly, a pond or stream combined with three sides of a solid barrier can serve both as a decorative feature and an effective means to contain bamboo. The water itself acts as the fourth wall, as bamboo rhizomes cannot grow through water.
Regularly check for rhizomes growing outside the barrier. If your barrier is deep and sturdy, the bamboo won’t have much room to spread. However, you must still keep an eye on the bamboo to ensure it doesn’t extend beyond its designated area. If you notice any stubborn rhizomes pushing out, you need to remove them: cut the underground roots and consider applying any of the methods described above to eliminate the bamboo.
Tips
- Clumping bamboo (unlike the more invasive running bamboo) can be a better choice if you still wish to grow bamboo in your garden. However, this species can still grow out of control, and you can use the methods outlined here to eliminate it.
- Dry bamboo leaves can be very sharp. You can take freshly cut bamboo to appropriate places, like compost bins or eco-friendly yard waste disposal areas.
- Some zoos use bamboo as food for pandas. If you wish to donate bamboo, check where it’s needed before cutting it and ensure enough time has passed for any chemicals on the bamboo to break down.
- If you grow bamboo in pots, you won’t have to worry about it spreading throughout the garden. This is a good way to enjoy the benefits of bamboo without the concern of it becoming invasive.
- Dry bamboo can be used to create trellises in the garden or for small construction projects.
Warning
- Wear gloves when spraying pesticides to prevent skin irritation.
- Make sure to spray pesticides only on the plants you want to eliminate; otherwise, you may damage other plants in your garden.
