I have a project to remove about a 4' x 4' area of Black Bamboo. The roots are so dense I can't get a shovel through. Apart from renting a jackhammer with a clay blade attachment, anyone have any suggestions?
My most successful bamboo removal started with a small backhoe. He was on the property for other reasons, but wow! was I glad when I saw the root mass. Actually, "success" is a relative term: after the removal I carefully painted the shoots with roundup for the rest of the season, then employed what I now feel is the only sure fire bamboo removal method - a realtor. The plant no longer intrudes on my sense of peace and wellbeing. Other than a backhoe, use an un-favorite axe after cutting to the ground, preferrably being held by other, younger hands. Ralph
If you're still having Bamboo troubles, have you thought of offering it to other members that may want Black Bamboo, I am sure many would come and dig it up for you, if they could have it for free. Cheers
Folks, Black bamboo is "EXTREMELY" valuable and in huge demand... Most local bamboo nurseries would be happy to take it aff your hands! Brock
Having just moved a 10*10 area of black bamboo from Robert's creek to powell river and having had 3 acres of bamboo previously...I'd say (since it is a small area) cut it down...sigh...and then cover the rhizomes with a very heavy nitrogen mix (Metanaturals 16-0-0) then 2, 1/2 inch thick 4x8 sheets of plywood with cinder blocks on each corner and several in the middle (overlap the boards by 6"). It'll try and go nuts, but without the light and with the heavy feed, it'll exhaust itself. Then as it rots, hepled by the 16-0-0, you'll turn it into fine topsoil. In lake'ch lance
Black Bamboo is very popular and valuable. We pay $hundreds of dollars to Black Bamboo grove owners and remove it for them. Ray easternbamboo.com
If you can't get someone to come and take your Black Bamboo - as someone suggested as in nurseries or a Bamboo specialist, try listing it on the Freecycle network (can I say that here...?) Black Bamboo is quite valuable - if I lived anywhere nearby *I'd* come take it out for you. (for me!). You should have hoards of people descending upon you to take it out and give it a good home. Good luck and keep us posted! Elizabeth
It is now February 2007 and I notice not a lot is being posted about removal of bamboo. I would like to offer a yard with at least 6 varieties of bamboo, free to the interested digger. I have vivax, timber, golden, golden groove, black, low growing variegated, all free to whoever has the shovels to dig it out. We are moving and I am married to a bamboo lover. My bamboo lover husband is now in Kosovo doing a project for USAID. Although he is very sad to see the bamboo go, he knows that is for the best if we are to sell our house. we have a very samll yard. ( He is in agreement, so please don't feel that I am giving away bamboo without his knowledge.) Please feel free to contact me if you are interested. I am located in Centralia, Washington. harjoaustin@yahoo.com
I just killed $200 worth fo black Bamboo over the winter. A combination of poor maintnance, dry cold weather andalkaline poorly drained soil. Too bad i wasn't actually trying to kill it.
