American bamboo

[angela4design]

I don't recall seeing american bamboo as a kid except in one isolated spot. Now, it's everywhere! Where did it come from? How? And, how do we get rid of it? I've tried cutting it down in the ground at the roots. Nothing. It's so persistent, and has become SO prevalent! Any tricks on dealing with it?

[Lakepilot]

We have land in Hilton Head and for the first time this year bamboo was growing. It does grow and spread like a weed. I pulled it up by the roots. If you just cut it off and leave the roots in the ground, it will just grow again.

[Argie's Wife]

If you're talking about the weed I think you are, I recently learned it's called Japanese Knotweed:

http://www.columbia.edu/itc/cerc/danoff-burg/invasion_bio/inv_spp_summ/Japanese%20knotweed.jpg


It's not bad looking... if it wasn't trying to take over my entire backyard, I'd like it a lot more than I do. I found a blog where someone really (honestly) likes it... (http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.coldclimategardening.com/images/japanese_knotweed.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.coldclimategardening.com/2006/09/16/wicked-beauty/&usg=__JTrBDO9WJhgQE2DYKETNi4nkOUM=&h=600&w=800&sz=177&hl=en&start=4&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=hkbUXKyZLmbR5M:&tbnh=107&tbnw=143&prev=/images%3Fq%3Djapanese%2Bknotweed%26um%3D1%26hl%3De n%26sa%3DN%26tbs%3Disch:1)

I complained about it back on another thread (http://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/showpost.php?p=127354&postcount=12) and a poster named Natt wrote about it:

About that bamboo...
That bamboo stuff is called Japanese Knotweed. It is terribly invasive. Make sure that if you use any equipment to cut it down that NO pieces remain on the mower or whatever, because it will spread from just a small cutting. My dad used to try to kill it with herbicides, to no avail. Try vinegar. White vinegar mixed half and half with water. Dump it on well, so the roots get it too. Works for a small area, but it is difficult stuff.

[LadyJane]

yes, that is Japanese Knotweed, another of those troublesome invasive species along with the likes of multiflora rose, purple loosestrife and that awful aquatic milfoil. This is very hard to get rid of.....one piece of the root left behind and the problem is still there.

[tis]

Check out Paul Parent. He has a radio show on Sunday mornings. I haven't heard it for a while but I assume it is still on. He is amazing. There aren't many questions he can't answer. He is asked a lot about the bamboo. I bet he has something on his website. I think you can email him questions too.