HOW DO I KILL BAMBOO AROUND PINE TREES?

Answer #1 · Stephen Whatley's Answer · Hi Theresa. Unfortunately, bamboo is one of, if not the toughest, plants to eradicate once established but there is still hope. I'm going to speak softly because the bamboo might be listening so, first, understanding that most bamboo spreads through rhizomes (running,spreading root system) will help you understand why proper technique will get you started in ridding yourself of the plant. First, arm yourself with pruning shears and a strong herbicide. Make your cuts a few inches above ground level and then quickly spray the herbicide on the top of the shoots. Bamboo will pull sap, very fast, back to the root system so the process of cut and spray needs to happen in a short amount of time to ensure good results. It will carry the chemical to the root system which in turn is the only way to kill this extremely invasive plant. Another way is simply to dig it up, trying to pull as much of the root system up as possible in the process. I wish you the best of luck and let us know if we can help with any further questions. I guess if all else fails you can allways plant more ,tear the house down so you can build a bamboo house, and farm the bamboo as I hear it makes a beautiful alternative to hardwood floors. I'm only kidding. Seriously, good luck and I hope this helps.)

Answer #2 · Gardenality.com's Answer · Stephen is right. Bamboo is one of the most difficult plants to eradicate. For most people, the easiest method is the one Stephen described. You can prune the shoots to about 6 inches above the ground and, then, within 15 seconds of making your cut, paint on an undiluted herbicide containing at least 41% glyophosate, such as super-concentrate Killzall or Glyphosel. This method works pretty good if you have a small stand or just a few shoots of bamboo.

If you have running bamboo covering a large area it may be necessary to dig it out to a depth of 18 inches or so with a larger piece of equipment such as a backhoe. Then, to contain any remaining rhizomes (roots) that were missed, you'll have to dig a 30 inch deep ditch around the entire bamboo grove area. This ditch will need to be filled with concrete or a steel or heavy plastic barrier to contain the rhizomes and keep them from spreading. This is a major undertaking and can be quite expensive. Problem with digging the bamboo, if it's growing among desirable plants or trees, such a your pine trees, digging it out this way could damage the roots and possibly kill these trees.

Another way to eliminate bamboo shoots is to burn them to death. But this method could also damage your pine trees or other plants sharing the area with the bamboo. To do this, during the hottest part of summer, cut down the bamboo shoots to a few inches above the ground. Then spread generous amounts of ammonium nitrate fertilizer over the entire area where the bamboo is growing. You want the fertilizer to just about cover the ground. Then cover the entire area with transparent plastic film, using rocks or something heavy around the edges and towards the interior to hold the film down. After a few days, the bamboo shoots will be cooked from too much heat, the high-power nitrogen fertilizer, and a lack of oxygen. After a few weeks, when it appears all the bamboo shoots are dead, you can remove the plastic film. It would still be a good idea to dig up the dead bamboo shoots just in case there are some remaining live rhizomes that could shoot up new growth.

If it were me, I'd try the herbicide method first. Then maybe the cooking method but, remember, this method can and will kill desirable plants and as well. You might have a year long or more battle on your hands but, if you stay persistent, you can win. Worst case scenario, or as a last resort, contact an arborist or a company that specializes in eradicating invasive plants.)