I am working on your reply. I will answer tomorrow morning before noon.  Thank you so much for your patience and understanding.

Julie Hartfelder

I’m so sorry to hear that you are having a problem with bamboo spreading. Bamboo is an invasive species and if left to its own, it will spread into any available space. There are 2 types of bamboo. One that forms clumps and are considered non-invasive and one that have fast-spreading rhizomes.

Controlling Bamboo that produces rhizomes requires consistent, long-term effort involving physical removal of rhizomes, installation of deep (30-36 inch) barriers or frequent mowing. Key strategies include digging up the root system, using systemic herbicides like glyphosate on new shoots, or starving the plant by cutting new growth to ground level. I reiterate, it must be consistent, long-term effort on your part to control.

A physical barrier is the best preventive method. You would need to install a vertical barrier 30-36 inches deep, leaving 2 inches above the ground, using materials like 40mm or thicker polypropylene, HDPE, or metal.

Another method to try is mowing and cutting. You will need to consistently mow new shoots in the Spring or cut them down to the ground before leaves form throughout the growing season. This will starve the root system over a 3-6 year time frame. If you want some of the bamboo, but not all of it, you will probably need to install the barrier and then consistently mow any new shoots on the size where you don’t want it to grow, as any rhizomes left in the ground will shoot new growth.

As a last resort you can apply a systemic herbicide like glyphosate to freshly cut, young bamboo culms. It will require repeated, multiple applications over several years as one treatment will not kill the entire root system.

For long-term management, bi-annual root pruning in late summer and fall is recommended to prevent spreading beyond desired boundaries. Attached is a very comprehensive article from the University of Maryland that explains the growth patterns of bamboo and how to control it.

If you have an excavator, I would remove the soil where the bamboo is currently growing. Apply a physical barrier as described above (and make sure it is deep enough). Then put your good soil in the ground. You will need to be diligent in watching for new shoots as some may be left behind when you dig and remove the bamboo. Make sure you dispose of the soil that you remove (do not just relocate it) so that small and broken rhizome pieces are also thrown away as they may sprout in the future. In that case you might only be spreading the bamboo, instead of getting rid of it.

If you have any other questions, please let me know. I hope this response helps you in researching and knowing how to deal with bamboo where you do not want it.

Here are some resources for your information:

https://extension.umd.edu/resource/containing-and-removing-bamboo/

https://chadwickarboretum.osu.edu/our-gardens/learning-gardens/bamboo-garden

https://knox.tennessee.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/202/2020/11/Bamboo-Control-Clemson.pdf

Thanks. Will do a better job responding more quickly. I will remember to include the “read label” and “wear gloves” when mentioning chemicles. 

If you haven’t already I guess I’m ready to put on the “live” list.