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Tons of Bamboo

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Mommymaureen  Send Mommymaureen a private message!


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Posted on Sunday, February 17, 2008 - 03:18 pm EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Hello! I live on an acre property in CA and I would estimate that about a quarter of it is covered in bamboo. I plan to clear it out but wanted to see if there is any resources that would like this bamboo for free. The only catch is that they have to harvest it themselves. Let me know. Thanks

Mommymaureen - Cali, Zone "10"
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Gardenfiend  Send Gardenfiend a private message!



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Posted on Sunday, February 17, 2008 - 05:07 pm EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Please tell me how you clear out bamboo. My garden is being overtaken by it, but it is impossible to dig it out, the roots are so hard and thick.

Gardenfiend - Germany, Zone "7a"
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Imcjfrom_ncusa  Send Imcjfrom_ncusa a private message!




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Posted on Sunday, February 17, 2008 - 06:10 pm EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Hi... removal will require the removal of the Rhizomes (underground root system)to ensure no regrowth. Some say that cutting them off as soon as they emerge with a new culm will deplete its energy and kill off that portion of the root system. If you offer free Boo for the digging you may get ample help in removing what you dont want. Here in the US we have Craigs list...I believe its world wide. I see offers to "come get" quite often.
There are many crafts too... depending on the size culms you have and type... the timber varieties are most looked for as they are te strongest. Wish you guys were closer :-) I'd come over and take a look.
Take care
CJ

Imcjfrom_ncusa - North Carolina, Zone "7"
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Gardenfiend  Send Gardenfiend a private message!



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Posted on Sunday, February 17, 2008 - 06:50 pm EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

I offer free bamboo to every and anyone willing to dig it out. Many have tried - once - but it is such hard work just to get out a couple of culms with the rhizomes that in the end they hardly made a dent in the ever-spreading mass.
I wonder about Round-Up...

Gardenfiend - Germany, Zone "7a"
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Imcjfrom_ncusa  Send Imcjfrom_ncusa a private message!




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Posted on Sunday, February 17, 2008 - 09:03 pm EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

have you tried locating the center most area of the growth? Thats the "mother palnt" everything outside of that are feeders. You will need to get someone to assist in digging that center area up. How large of an area of growth do you have? Pics? clutedad@nc.rr.com
Thanks
CJ

Imcjfrom_ncusa - North Carolina, Zone "7"
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Imcjfrom_ncusa  Send Imcjfrom_ncusa a private message!




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Posted on Sunday, February 17, 2008 - 09:08 pm EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Round up will work... but you would need so much and nothing in the area would be spaired.
CJ

Imcjfrom_ncusa - North Carolina, Zone "7"
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Stephie  Send Stephie a private message!


Posted on Sunday, February 17, 2008 - 11:11 pm EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

There's an old Chinese proverb that when an earthquake hits it is wise to be standing by bamboo. Good luck! LOL!

Stephie
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Gardenfiend  Send Gardenfiend a private message!



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Posted on Monday, February 18, 2008 - 04:09 am EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

No photo handy - anyway the spread is too much even for a wide-angle lens. It's Phyllostachys bisettii and we planted it about 22 years ago - in our innocence.
It is about 8 meters tall and has spread about 10 meters wide. In the back it has long since left our property and is growing on a public space behind. Children play hide and seek in it. In front it abuts a bit of lawn, so that isn't a problem because I just mow over the new little shoots. The worst is the side where it has begun growing into my best shade border. It is an ongoing battle and there is no way I can win.
Impossible to tell where the "centermost area" is. It is a jungle.
If I'd have to spray all the leaves with RoundUp then that isn't an option. I'd need an aeroplane. On the other hand, I wouldn't have to worry about collateral damage - where the bamboo grows nothing else grows.
Do you think, if I managed to RoundUp one part, that the poison would spread through the rhizomes to the rest?

Gardenfiend - Germany, Zone "7a"
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Imcjfrom_ncusa  Send Imcjfrom_ncusa a private message!




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Posted on Monday, February 18, 2008 - 08:35 am EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

No, it would kill that section only... If you could get someone to level the entire growth at one time... you could them manage it by mowing every new shoot once it pops its head out... it would likely be a daily check... the plan here is to prevent any photosynthesis from recharging the rhizomes underground. Could take many months, but eventually the outer portions wiull be exhausted and die off first... and slowly die off as it it retreats back towards the mother plant... plan here is no leafs above ground...ever.With that size area... maybe a fresh cut to ground level and a healthy dose of roundup would speed up the process as well. :( hate to see it happen though... I can only dream of a grove of that size.
Take care CJ

Imcjfrom_ncusa - North Carolina, Zone "7"
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Gardenfiend  Send Gardenfiend a private message!



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Posted on Monday, February 18, 2008 - 08:53 am EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Charles, thank you so much for that suggestion! It is the first ray of hope I've seen. Funny it never occurred to me, although I've used that method to get rid of "normal" weeds. I shall give it a try (if my DH who worships the #ยง$%& bamboo will allow me).

Gardenfiend - Germany, Zone "7a"
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Imcjfrom_ncusa  Send Imcjfrom_ncusa a private message!




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Posted on Monday, February 18, 2008 - 10:55 am EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Also... once cut to ground level ... a tiller would be great too... most rhizomes are around 18 inces deep... slice and dice them up :-)that would surely deplete the new shoots to a tiny size shoot quickly.
best of luck.

Imcjfrom_ncusa - North Carolina, Zone "7"
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Gardenfiend  Send Gardenfiend a private message!



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Posted on Tuesday, March 11, 2008 - 09:29 am EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Mission accomplished Yesterday and today I sawed down to ground level altogether approx. 150 bamboo culms, some at least 12 metres tall!

My plan is to leave the area till May or June when the new shoots start to appear and then douse it with RoundUp. Not going to try the tiller after being warned that it is a lethal weapon (definitely would be in my hands). After that I thought I'd cover it in a thick layer of compost and I hope I can start planting.

But I would be grateful for any suggestions for improving the plan!

Gardenfiend - Germany, Zone "7a"
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Posted on Tuesday, March 11, 2008 - 09:49 am EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Mara if you can find a piece of synthetic carpet to cover even a small portion it would help retard any new growth. Mulching may just encourage it to try and sprout even more. Black plastic might work but the new growth on bamboo can be very sharp and could tear straight through it.

Growit - Hants UK, Zone "8/9"
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Imcjfrom_ncusa  Send Imcjfrom_ncusa a private message!




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Posted on Tuesday, March 11, 2008 - 10:40 am EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Hello again ;-) Hope all are doing well. Stage one complete I see... all cut to ground level...no leafs above ground correct? no stray culms hiding behind a fence? Theory here is to starve the mother plant. Any leafs above ground will serve to energize the plant. You will likely see many tiny whip shoots popping up very soon. Its a panic mechanism in the plant to get leafs open to photosynthesize asap. Hit them with the lawn mower soon as they are up. Or just clip them off... depending on the number of them will determine which route to take. a swing cycle works nice and easier on the back too.

Placing any sort of covering is a mute point. I have seen new shoots travel 12 foot under major roadway and pop up on the otherside, breaking through asphault. Seen some come up under a hardwood floor board in a greenhouse too.
So shy of 6-8 inches of concrete...if she wants to sprout...she will. Just have to startve her...
Take care
CJ

Imcjfrom_ncusa - North Carolina, Zone "7"
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Gardenfiend  Send Gardenfiend a private message!



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Posted on Tuesday, March 11, 2008 - 10:55 am EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Hi - thanks for staying on this with me! Moira, I agree, there isn't much the shoots can't penetrate, or work around.

What is better: mowing the new shoots down as soon as they appear, or dousing them with RoundUp?

The problem is, I can't remove all the bamboo because of a conflict of interest ;) between DH and me. So I've cleared half the area within our garden and left him his half. Moreover, the bamboo has long since escaped into a public field behind the garden where it has spread quite far. I can't even attempt to eliminate it from there.

Also, I don't know where the "mother plant" was. The bamboo has been growing and spreading for over 20 years. It's all mother plant by now!

So I suppose I've let myself in for an ongoing battle. Even if I can starve or otherwise murder the rhizomes under the area I've cleared, there will be constant new invasions from the remaining bamboo. Right?

Gardenfiend - Germany, Zone "7a"
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Imcjfrom_ncusa  Send Imcjfrom_ncusa a private message!




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Posted on Tuesday, March 11, 2008 - 05:15 pm EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Well might have a ray of hope here for you. There are solid borders thsat can be placed into the ground as a barrier. placed at a wedge type angle that would force the sneaking rhizomes upward making them noticed as they peek over the barrier. The angle is whats important as the rhizome slips up towards the sky... to straight and the rhizome will easily peirce the barrier and continue on its way. The rhizomes travel between 18 to 24 inches deep so the barrier at a slant about 30 inches deep would be just about right. Once the barrier is in place... the area you want cleared out can then be dug or tilled at your leisure to rid the area you want saved from spreading rhizomes... the need to keep the area leaf free will help your section die off too once the barrier is dug in...that will sever the rhizomes as well. You have a good fight ahead of you :-) wish I was closer to lend a hand ... cover my travels and I'm on my way.
CJ

Imcjfrom_ncusa - North Carolina, Zone "7"
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Malgorzata  Send Malgorzata a private message!



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Posted on Tuesday, March 11, 2008 - 06:17 pm EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Mara, ...the solid borders placed into the ground as a barrier... take this point of advise very seriously.

Malgorzata - Fukuoka-Kyushu, Zone "8/9"
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Gardenfiend  Send Gardenfiend a private message!



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Posted on Thursday, March 13, 2008 - 09:01 am EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Oh I do take it seriously. I just don't know how it will be possible, but I'm thinking and thinking. A couple of years ago, when I offered to let the local nursery have as much bamboo to sell as they could dig up, they sent three strong young men with sharp spades. After hours of digging they just managed to remove about 8 or 10 sellable plants with rhizomes. It is all but impossible to dig through the thick weave of rhizomes - I think you'd need dynamite. And digging long trenches 75cm deep probably isn't doable except with some kind of big machine - and there is no way to get those onto our property, unfortunately.

Maybe we just should move house...

Gardenfiend - Germany, Zone "7a"
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Arthurb3  Send Arthurb3 a private message!


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Posted on Saturday, April 19, 2008 - 11:08 am EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

They would need a back how and a dump truck to get it all out.

Arthurb3 - Raleigh, North Carolina, Zone "7/8"
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Imcjfrom_ncusa  Send Imcjfrom_ncusa a private message!




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Posted on Saturday, April 19, 2008 - 06:05 pm EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Hi Arthur... what part of Raleigh are you in? I'm in Cary... near the Towne Center.
Bye for now

I would think that posting on craigs list or local paper for anyone wanting Free Bamboo... you dig it and its yours ;-) offer would get some interested.

Are there local plant shops or farmers markets that you could talk with and see if they would be interested.

just a few ideas :-)
Take care all

Imcjfrom_ncusa - North Carolina, Zone "7"

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