How to kill bamboo

dominoman

i have rampant bamboo that is going under my patio. I've chopped it all down two years ago, and I spray with weedkiller every two weeks but I still can't kill it.

Unfortunately I cant dig it out because it is in between the raised patio and a wall.

Now I am thinking to use concentrated hydrochloric acid. Good idea?

glasgowdan

Spike the ground all around the plant and pour a little petrol down there!

shaun_from_Africa

Spraying or pouring weedkiller on the outside of the bamboo will have little or no effect unless there are plenty of leaves as the outside of the plant stem is pretty much waterproof.
Although it will be time consuming, the best way to treat it is to cut the stems almost to ground level then apply the weedkiller directly to the top of the of cut stem. Use a strong stump and root killer and apply to each individual stem using a brush if possible.

Even this may take a couple of applications because you've already found out, (and I found out a couple of years ago) bamboo is extremely difficult to eradicate totally without digging it out.

freezspirit

http://www.wikihow.com/Kill-Bamboo

might be helpful

dominoman

The petrol option sounds like a possibility - but I'd be worried about contaminating the ground for long. The acid would break down quicker than petrol.

I may have to go for a combination of acid plus salt and then cover it in old carpet for the rest of summer to stop new shoots coming up.

-taff

caustic soda and water will do it

konark

Buy a panda.

shaun_from_Africa

konark wrote: »

Buy a panda.

If the OP can't get in to dig the bamboo out, how will this fit?