Shrubs - Bamboo
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  (September) My neighbor has planted a stand of bamboo as a privacy fence between our common backyards. The bamboo is now some 15 to 20 feet tall and the stand is some 50 feet long. It provides a wonderful privacy fence in addition to the wooden one. However, it has roots that extend into my yard from which shoots are constantly sprouting. If I don't mow the grass on a very regular basis these shoots are very evident. I have tried digging the roots up, but short of using a backhoe I haven't had much luck. Is there anything I can do to get rid of the roots?

  The only way I know to prevent the roots from encroaching is to place a physical barrier in the ground at planting. Sheet metal, concrete or something similar can limit their root spread. For now, regular mowing should keep them in check. The rule of thumb to keep bamboo contained, is to be able to mow it in a path surrounding it in all directions, the same width as the plant grows tall. If you have 20 foot tall bamboo, a circumference mowing of 20 feet will keep it from spreading.

  My neighbor has Japanese bamboo in the back yard and it has spread almost to his back door, and is threatening to spread over to my back yard. I have heard that the roots will creep into the sewer and stop it up. In the winter, thousands of blackbirds roost in the cane. I would like to eradicate the cane. My neighbor says he doesn’t know how to get rid of it. Can you tell us what to use to destroy it?

  I wish there was an easy answer. Bamboo is one of the hardest plants to eradicate, because it has such a tough and extensive root system. Before it spreads into your yard, considering digging a trench and putting in a physical barrier, as deep as you can get. The best method, and the most labor intensive, would be to cut back all of the bamboo, then get a backhoe in, or similar digging tool, and get up as much of the root system as possible. Then treat each errant sprout that appears with a glyphosate product. You won’t be rid of it in one season, but if you keep after it long enough, you can win the battle. Your experience is the reason I never recommend planting bamboo, even though it does make a quick screen, it is hard to contain.

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