You will need:
- Total glyphosate herbicide
- Application equipment (knapsack sprayer)
- Correct PPE (overalls, face shield, chemical resistant gloves and wellies)
- Digging fork
Why Is Bamboo A Problem?
Bamboo is an evergreen perennial flowering plant belonging to the subfamily Bambusoideae from the grass family Poaceae. Whilst they are typically a desirable plant to have, they are capable of spreading very quickly if not contained properly and quickly turn into an invasive weed. Running bamboo shoots can appear anywhere and usually weed control membranes will not stop it.
There are two types of bamboo; running and clump-forming bamboo. Running bamboo (such as Arundinaria, Bashania, and Chimonobambusa) produce long underground stems that, as already stated, can appear anywhere as they grow away from the main plant. Clump-forming bamboo (such as Bambusa, Chusquea and Dendrocalamus) are less invasive and grow in tight clumps, however they can still grow out of control if they are not maintained.
How To Control Bamboo:
It is possible to control bamboo by digging sections of the plant out and reducing the size, however this is often difficult with very large, overgrown plants. Make sure you cut the underground stems (rhizomes) as you go, removing them with a digging fork.
An effective way of controlling and removing bamboo is by using a strong glyphosate weed killer such as Roundup Pro Vantage or Gallup Hi-Aktiv. Repeat applications may be necessary in order to control and completely kill the plant.
