A Homeowner’s Guide to Getting Rid of Bamboo from Your Garden for Good

As a homeowner, you probably take great pride in your garden. If you enjoy tending to your plants, some are trickier to manage than others. Bamboo for instance may be a desirable plant, but whilst clumping varieties remain relatively contained, ‘runners’ can become a real nuisance that require specialist removal assistance. If you’re not careful then before you know it, bamboo can take over your whole landscape! Follow the tips below which can help you get rid of bamboo from your garden for good.

Dig Up the Roots

If you don’t mind getting your hands dirty, one method to get rid of bamboo is by digging up its roots. Doing so will restrict the size bamboo can grow to. For you to get underneath the roots, we advise you use a sharp spade. You can manually dig great big clumps of bamboo which will minimise the risk of it growing back.

Mow Down Shoots

Mowing regularly is another great way to eliminate bamboo. Although this option will require a lot of time and energy, over time, you will get the results you want as long as you follow the procedures well. Make sure to mow over the area where the plant was as often as you do your garden. Mowing down the shoots and digging up the roots will give the best results.

Use a Weedkiller

Some homeowners use weedkiller to get rid of the over-growth or the whole bamboo plant. However, the bigger the bamboo is, the more difficulty you’ll have shifting it. Begin by cutting down the bamboos canes and using a spade to cut the underground rhizomes. Next, apply a strong glyphosate-based weedkiller. It’s best to do this in late spring or the start of summer. 

Apply Hot Water

An environmentally friendly way to wipe out bamboo is by applying hot water. While there is no guarantee this will work, some homeowners suggest it, and it could be worth trying this approach before you move onto more costly and time-consuming methods. This method is more natural than using herbicides. To begin, you should dig around the bamboo to expose its roots. Next, pour boiling water onto the root system directly which will kill the plant. You must repeat this procedure when new growth appears. To ensure the bamboo is dead, you can dig up the rest of the plant, as well as the dead roots.

Try Vinegar

Another simple approach that isn’t guaranteed, but could help, is to try using vinegar. Most people have vinegar in their cupboard, so this is an easy way to try and get rid of your bamboo. An organic approach to tackling bamboo is by using vinegar as it’s highly acidic and prevents new growth of the plant. This method attacks the roots you couldn’t remove. Start by moistening the soil. Next, dig around the clump of bamboo and expose as much of its root system as possible. Finally, pour the vinegar on the roots and make sure they’re soaked. You may find it easier to use a sprayer to do this.

Contact a Professional

Ultimately, tackling bamboo yourself can be a major challenge, so it’s usually advisable to go to the experts. Bamboo needs to be controlled for the sake of the safety of your house – and your neighbours too! Therefore, you may want to contact PBA Solutions as they are specialists in Bamboo removal, as well as invasive weeds.

Bamboos are popular garden plants. However, some species can outgrow their allotted space quickly. Not only can this look unattractive, but the plant can also be virtually impossible to get rid of. The tips above can help you get rid of the menace for good and keep your garden neat and tidy.