James City County/Williamsburg Master Gardeners
	The Master Gardener Program
Electronic Helpdesk

Bamboo

To destroy bamboo you will need to cut each stem separately about 6" from the base. Within 15 seconds brush a glyphosate herbicide product such as “Roundup” onto the cut. Timing is everything, as the sap from the bamboo travels downward quickly after the bamboo has been cut.  If you have 2 people available for this job, one person can cut the bamboo, the other can brush on the herbicide within 15 seconds of cutting the bamboo. Follow instructions on the herbicide container and wait the appropriate time required before digging out the deceased bamboo.

If the bamboo is growing onto your property from an adjacent lot, you will need to place a barrier along the property line.  A 12" metal barrier can be dug into the ground the length of the growth.

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