Bamboo

Controlling bamboo

An effective treatment strategy for bamboo may depend on the species involved and how well established it is. As such we recommend a site assessment before deciding on the best approach which will be either or a combination of:

• 1. Herbicide treatment:  Usually a glyphosate-based herbicide works best.  This would need to be applied for several years (once a year in late summer) consecutively to ensure adequate migration to the rhizomes in the soil.  Even then, like Japanese knotweed, the rhizome network in the soil may retain some viability so there is a small risk of re-growth in the future and regular annual inspections are advised.
  
  
• 2. Excavation:  Bamboo rhizomes and even their shoots (culms) are very tough and if you want to reduce or remove bamboo you’ll likely need to use a mechanical digger to make any impression!  Quite apart from the cost and physical disruption of this approach it will also produce a lot of waste rhizomes and soil which need careful handling to avoid spreading the problem elsewhere. The key benefit is that, with some cautionary monitoring, it is likely to be the best way to achieve long-term control and give you the ability to re-assign that part of your garden for e.g. landscaping or re-planting.

Many PCA Invasive weed control members have substantial experience with bamboo management and should be able to advise the best approach in each situation.  To find a PCA invasive weed specialist, simply run a search using the search tool below.