any green thumbs out there???

[semagic]

unwanted bamboo taking over a corner of my backyard. any good methods to removing bamboo? [img]/images/graemlins/help.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/scratchhead.gif[/img]

[Crusher]

Re: any green thumbs out there???

Blow torch? [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[BLOOD SPLATTER]

Re: any green thumbs out there???

Giant Panda??

[Death]

Re: any green thumbs out there???

chinease immigrants? jk.....

[Chameleonfong]

Re: any green thumbs out there???

[ QUOTE ]
chinease immigrants? jk.....

[/ QUOTE ]


Bwhahahahah!!! [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]


Fong

[Emthrax]

Re: any green thumbs out there???

Are you trying to eradicate it, or control it? What kind of bamboo do you have?

The safest and most environmentally sound method (also hardest depending on how much bamboo you have)... cut whatever you don't want down to the ground. Then start digging up rhizomes.
Once you remove what you don't want you can maintain the area by regularly checking for stray growth. Remove that by hand or just mow it or whack it with a weed eater.

HTH,
Emmy

[GodOfRhythm]

Re: any green thumbs out there???

We have A LOT of bamboo in our yard. It grows like crazy!

The best way is as Em described, cut the stems or young roots down to groundlevel, then take a shovel and start digging up the roots and underground remains. Keep close tabs on the area in the coming next weeks and remove any extra stuff that sprouted.

Planting something dominant over it would relieve the risk of it coming back.

[semagic]

Re: any green thumbs out there???

[ QUOTE ]
Are you trying to eradicate it, or control it? What kind of bamboo do you have?

The safest and most environmentally sound method (also hardest depending on how much bamboo you have)... cut whatever you don't want down to the ground. Then start digging up rhizomes.
Once you remove what you don't want you can maintain the area by regularly checking for stray growth. Remove that by hand or just mow it or whack it with a weed eater.

HTH,
Emmy

[/ QUOTE ]

trying to remove it completely (without chemicals if possible). will anything like a certain shrub ect... dominate it? [img]/images/graemlins/scratchhead.gif[/img]

[dg]

Re: any green thumbs out there???

This link gives pretty much the same advice that our local extension agent gave us when my dad's yard fell under attack. He ended up trenching 2' down & laying in poly barrier sheet, which is about the only way to be sure it won't come back.

http://www.americanbamboo.org/Genera...ingBamboo.html

I don't think anything can dominate bamboo. Kudzu, maybe? [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[Cleveland Metal]

Re: any green thumbs out there???

Yeah, I hear that stuff is insidious, and what Emme said is about all you could do naturally.

[Emthrax]

Re: any green thumbs out there???



[/ QUOTE ]

trying to remove it completely (without chemicals if possible). will anything like a certain shrub ect... dominate it? [img]/images/graemlins/scratchhead.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

Good for you for wanting to eradicate without putting chemicals into the environment. [img]/images/graemlins/headbang.gif[/img]
Sure... people use plastic and all sorts of crap as buried barriers, it works. But it junks up the environment.
The absolutely best way is just to keep on it and it will eventually be out of your hair. It's not horribly exhasperating, getting the rhizomes out is the most important.

Planting something else is an excellent way to help push out and prevent the bamboo from returning.
It completely depends on where you live as to what would do best in your climate. I see you are in Texas, but this is a big state with a couple different climates. I live in a desert, nothing grows here other than cacti and mesquite.
Best bet is to head to the nursery and ask an expert there what is natural to your environment that can take over but not be too invasive.
One idea you can look into... Oleander. Grows quickly, beautiful leaves and it flowers... extremely hardy, but very poisonous. So if you have kids and/or animals it may not be a great idea.

Goodluck! Get your gloves out! [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]
-Emmy