dealing with invasive bamboo - Ask Extension
How do we get rid of invasive bamboo that is encroaching into our meadow?
Knowledgebase
dealing with invasive bamboo #912543
Asked August 04, 2025, 9:33 AM EDT
How do we get rid of invasive bamboo that is encroaching into our meadow?
Baltimore County Maryland
Expert Response
Hi-
Running bamboo species will spread unless removed (i.e., all of the rhizomes 12-18 inches down in the soil) or contained. In 2023, the MD legislature passed a bill "Authorizing the governing bodies of counties and municipalities to adopt ordinances to regulate invasive bamboo, including by prohibiting a person from selling, planting, and allowing invasive bamboo to grow on the property of the person without proper upkeep and appropriate containment measures."
It's important to identify landscape management companies that have experience removing bamboo. Reputable contractors who do bamboo remediation work tend to follow some variation of this process: cut all culms (bamboo stalks) to the ground, use a skid steer loader or mini-excavator to dig and lift rhizomes and roots, and remove all rhizome remnants by hand. Grade and replant as needed.
Cutting the culms and applying a non-selective herbicide to the cut ends will not eradicate the bamboo stand in one year. It usually takes several years.
A bamboo barrier is installed if containment, not eradication, is the goal. The barrier should be at least 36 inches wide with 8 inches above grade to prevent rhizomes from "walking" over the barrier when organic matter fills the bamboo side. It is very difficult to remove bamboo rhizomes that surround a fence. They wrap around footers.
Detailed information on invasive bamboo:
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/containing-and-removing-bamboo/
Jon
Running bamboo species will spread unless removed (i.e., all of the rhizomes 12-18 inches down in the soil) or contained. In 2023, the MD legislature passed a bill "Authorizing the governing bodies of counties and municipalities to adopt ordinances to regulate invasive bamboo, including by prohibiting a person from selling, planting, and allowing invasive bamboo to grow on the property of the person without proper upkeep and appropriate containment measures."
It's important to identify landscape management companies that have experience removing bamboo. Reputable contractors who do bamboo remediation work tend to follow some variation of this process: cut all culms (bamboo stalks) to the ground, use a skid steer loader or mini-excavator to dig and lift rhizomes and roots, and remove all rhizome remnants by hand. Grade and replant as needed.
Cutting the culms and applying a non-selective herbicide to the cut ends will not eradicate the bamboo stand in one year. It usually takes several years.
A bamboo barrier is installed if containment, not eradication, is the goal. The barrier should be at least 36 inches wide with 8 inches above grade to prevent rhizomes from "walking" over the barrier when organic matter fills the bamboo side. It is very difficult to remove bamboo rhizomes that surround a fence. They wrap around footers.
Detailed information on invasive bamboo:
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/containing-and-removing-bamboo/
Jon
