Getting rid of bamboo

FreeBear

Have a couple of clumps of bamboo that need to go. In the past, I've had a couple of fit young lads digging the stuff out using spades, forks, mattocks, and axes. Both of them gave up after a long day of hard graft....

Got me a reciprocating saw (needed one for another job last year). Hacking the root ball in to 6" squares, the bamboo is coming out quite easy. Fortunately, my soil is sandy with with very few stones. Even so, the blades soon dulls. Just ordered a TCT brick/cement blade, so will see if that lasts any better.

[Deleted User]

It's a ****er of a thing to eradicate so good that you got the heavier equipment !
It's runners/roots spread far and wide so try to ensure as wide an area as possible is turned over, having sandy soil is a bonus too (i'm on sandy too) as it makes the job almost 100% easier than other types.

twopenny

Some bamboo is clump forming and doesn't run - but sounds like you've got a thug.
Interesting technique.
If you do see new shoots coming up get some of the earth out around and pour boiling water on.
No idea if this works but I've seen it recommend.

FreeBear

twopenny said: Some bamboo is clump forming and doesn't run - but sounds like you've got a thug.
Interesting technique.

Definitely clump forming. One patch was well established when the family moved in over 50 years ago. The other clump is about 30 years old. The youngest clump has tried to run a couple of times, but it was easy enough to knock it back.

I'll take some photos later for your amusement.

Dustyevsky

A friend had the dwarf kind running through her front garden, until I gave it some selective treatment in autumn 2021. Took about 15 minutes and hasn't re-grown. 

FreeBear

FreeBear said: I'll take some photos later for your amusement.

Rain stopped play, and I need a new blade.

After cutting through the rhizomes, the blocks pull out easy enough.

FreeBear

Carbide tipped masonry/concrete blades are a must. Regular wood blades do not last long.

twopenny

Well you learn something new each day!

Wonder if it would work on Pampas grass?

FreeBear

twopenny said:

Well you learn something new each day!

Wonder if it would work on Pampas grass?

Probably, but I'd suggest wearing stout leather gauntlets.

twopenny

I wondered because I actually turned a house down because of the huge clump of pampas and reading it could only be burnt out, deep into the ground.
I like pampas grass, just not huge in the vegetable patch 

olgadapolga

twopenny said:

I wondered because I actually turned a house down because of the huge clump of pampas and reading it could only be burnt out, deep into the ground.

I like pampas grass, just not huge in the vegetable patch 

We removed two enormous pampas grass clumps by using an absolutely evil petrol brush cutter to cut it down to the level of the surrounding earth.

There was no chance of burning it out as a) the clumps were saturated and b) they were next to a wooden fence so we spent many (happy) hours digging it out. It was tricky as the previous owners of the house had planted the grasses next to a pond and there wasn't much room to work between the pond and fence.

The plants did not make any attempt at a comeback (unlike the stubborn apple tree we've currently got which just won't quit, despite being ringbarked twice - I want the tree for height in the garden but not the horrible apples it produces).

FreeBear said:

 I'd suggest wearing stout leather gauntlets.

Definitely, the blades are terribly sharp, like serrated knives.