[mbeaudoin001]

How do I kill bamboo growing in my yard?

[smoothy]

THe quick way, Dig it up roots and all... they have massive energy stores in them and will keep coming back for a very long time otherwise. They are deep, so it's a lot of work...

You could also cut it down, spray any and all new growth immediately with a product such as Round up, but you might be doing this for several years until the energy stores are exhausted and it dies.

It's a tedious job either way.

[joypulv]

You could try what I've done (carefully) with other types of plants:
Cut down and cart away.
Spray what's left with charcoal lighter fluid, and throw a match on the area.
If there's a big clump of heavy growth near the ground, put a bag of charcoal on top, and spray again with lighter fluid, and let it slowly burn, was though you are making hamburgers.
After any embers are totally gone, go to the dump and get a lot of flattened cardboard, and cover it with bricks and rocks for a year, til it rots.

Worked for me. I don't have the strength for anything difficult, and this is easy.
Won't be safer over a large area though.

[Catsmine]

Plan on spending 2 hours a week with a shovel in your hands for the next three years digging up shoots. There is no way other than commercial excavation to get ALL the roots and it will sprout.

[Fr_Chuck]

They have deep roots and can spread a long distance. They are nearly impossible to control and even harder to get rid of.

Digging them out, roots and all, is about it.

[J_9]

Cut mine down with a machete then went over it with a lawn mower every time I mowed my yard. It's been 10 years and haven't seen a sprout since.

[tickle]

Bamboo is very attractive to people starting with a pond atmosphere within their sundeck, however, they are not warned of the possibilities of the bamboo taking root and, basically taking over everything. The correct people advising will tell not them the bamboo has to be contained within a concrete enclosure which will limit its expansion over the years.

It is a sustainable product, used for so many purposes, building materials, floors, clothing. An excellent alternative to other non sustainable products. It is unfortunate that we are not well educated in its uses in a western environment. This product of organic material may well be our salvation if harnessed in an appropriate way.

Killing it, well maybe J has a good idea and it worked for her, but it is a wonderful beautifully appealing plant.