Bamboo

[kmccune]

Alright folks, some inconsiderate and well off neighbors bought the farm next door and had berms built-then on top of that,planted spreading bamboo.The bamboo is encroaching,what can I do about it?-Kevin

[johnjmw]

I talked with my brother a number of years ago about planting bamboo. What he told me is that to contain the spreading varieties you have to have a seamless barrier three feet deep enclosing the planting. The shoots are edible, but if I remember correctly he also said they will puncture car tires at some stage of development. The National forests have a proplem with this also. I was told they use a torch to burn them but am not sure about that.
Good luck, I do know theky can be a real pest. The ?wood? is good for a handful of things and is burnable in a fire place.
John

[crazychuck]

I would call a lawyer and see what your options are. If that doesnt work out then I would go to crazy chuck's "plan B" which always consists of large quantities of gasoline, black powder, a cordless drill, arm floaties, Sasquach, Beef jerkey, and a rubber ducky. Its a really simple plan and it works in almost any situation.

Goodluck ;D ;D ;D ;D

[kmccune]

Well thanks guys,I appreciate it.But these good folks.have now sold out and absconded,my brother has cooked some of the shoots-has anyone any Pandas I can rent? I have even cut the large stalks down& put cattle salt on them to no avail,I do agree about the fuel part-but how do you keep the stems from exploding?Kevin

[TSJ]

Here are some interesting ideas.

http://www.lewisbamboo.com/controlling-bamboo.html#aborting

[kmccune]

Thanks TSJ some very good info and ideas,wish my neighbors would have just done either the berms or the Bamboo(not both) I cant really get over there to control it-Kevin

[crazychuck]

why would you not want it to explode?

[tomato204]

Sounds like you have a free crop going there. If it was me, I'd harvest the canes once a year and cut it all back to the property line. Great for bean poles, fishing poles, etc. Some folks will even BUY the root cuttings from you. You don't have to fertilize or water them and you get a crop every year!

[25074]

I have been wanting to plant Bamboo on the side of my drive way as a barrier so I don't have to see my creepy neighbor.

But I am affraid of it taking over his yard. (would make any problems worsr for sure)

I planned on burying 55 gal drums and planting the bamboo inside of it.

Either drums or I know a guy that can get me that black drain pipe that is like 24 inches across and bury that standing up.

What do you guys think?

[kmccune]

Well you can get clump bamboo.Yes I have thought about chipping it and using it for mulch-Kevin PS I do use it for tomatoe stakes and bean trellises

[kmccune]

But this does raise another issue,how do you cure the stuff? Kevin

[crazychuck]

I would guess that if you laid it flat in a warm dry place for a while it would dry just like wood, but I have never worked with bamboo before. Good luck ;D

[GoodDaughter]

I know a spot on the riverbank where I somtimes cut bamboo poles (yes, bamboo, and not 'cane') I just cut it with a hacksaw, strip off the leaves and leaf stalks and lay them flat to dry. They turn from green to brown. Be sure to put the leaf stalks somewhere that it's ok for them to lay undecayed. Bamboo doesn't decay the way other organic material does. I left some leaf stalks laying around and finally had to burn them after about 3 years.

[kmccune]

Thanks,this Bamboo I have gets pretty tall-doesnt attain that much girth.Have laid it upon a metal roof(with the leaves still on -it rotted) Do you think it would make good mulch if it was chipped?-Kevin

[momma_to_seven_chi]

Can you make it an asset rather than a detriment? Root a bunch of it and sell in all over the cooler parts of the nation. A couple of stocks in water sell for fifteen dollars in the Midwest as an ornamental house plant. I have seen it being sold at all sorts of craft festivals. It is very popular. You could make all sorts of crafty items to sell out of the poles. "Real Bamboo" Cane poles could be marketed at craft shows for $30 a piece. It's a free crop to be used to your own advantage. People will buy anything with the right marketing. I have seen idiots buying osage oranges (hedge balls) for three dollars a piece at fall harvest festivals becasue they were marketed as "natural organic pest control". Hedge Balls! You can't get much more worthless than that, but people make money off of them in the right places.

[kmccune]

Thanks,but I cant seem to get the stuff to cure correctly,the sprouts are edible however .I f people want the stuff-I try to discourage them,its worse then multiflora rose-Kevin

[Anon001]

Kevin,
I've been reading about bamboo.... Maybe the reason it isn't curing is because it wasn't "matured" when you cut it? Just a thought. I saw where a lot of the various bamboos are 3 years old and some even older than that before they are "mature".

[kmccune]

that could be the problem,never thought of that.But there is a light at the end of the tunnel now-the new landowners are starting an organic farm+sheep they dont like the Bamboo either and said they are going to take steps to remove or control it-Thanks,Kevin

[Anon001]

Dang! Send it to me! LOL... I want some bamboo......

[kmccune]

Really? will it propagate from a rhizome?Kevin

[SPIKE]

I have to agree with Paul. I've been looking for someone that might let me dig up some starts.
Wonder how much it would cost to ship? Could you ship roots that were bare to keep weight down?

SPIKE

[johnjmw]

Kevin, thats what maked them so invasive. They spread underground by their rhizomes.
John

[kmccune]

well if they can be kept damp,any ideas-Kevin

[johnjmw]

The question is which type of bamboo is it. When I am ready to grow some, I am looking at the ones that are 2"-4" in diameter. Big enough to be useful,,, I think and possibly strong enough to be be used structurally. It also looks like I'll need to know more about curing them. I thought if you cut it and let it dry it would be burnable. Reading some of the posts sounds like I will have to review some information on it.
John

[rAcErRicK]

Just be careful if you burn it John, I've seen some of it blow up and scatter hot coals everywhere due to moisture and air inside the hollow joints. We used to intentionally cut and throw them in the fire to watch 'em blow, as a kid. Given the wrong conditions, it can be dangerous.

[kmccune]

Burns very hot and very explosive-I suppose some rhizomes could get shipped in book mailers @ the book rate,if the USDA didn't object-Kevin ;D

[johnjmw]

Thats was what I was thinking the cause was. So each hollow would have to be cracked or punctured somehow to eliminate the the Pops. Not to bad if it burns good enough.
John

[rAcErRicK]

Thats was what I was thinking the cause was. *So each hollow would have to be cracked or punctured somehow to eliminate the the Pops. *Not to bad if it burns good enough. *
John

Not real sure about that John. Never really researched it, but a guess would be that the explosions might very well be influenced by the age of the bamboo. You know, green v/s dry. I have also seen it burned without the fireworks, but just don't remember, so I can't really recommend anything but caution. Good luck.

I would not hesitate to burn it out away from crowds of family, or kids, if there was no immediate danger of flying sparks causing a runnaway fire, and would recommend safety glasses, and a source of water on standby. :D

[reedb66]

Here in missouri I too have seen hedgeballs for sale as pest deterents and wondered if they worked ,Being from wisconsin I dont know much about them except they sell for about 3.00 each.You are right though people will buy anything!!!