Golden Bamboo, It Only Took 36 Years

Discussion in 'Trees, Shrubs and Roses' started by Jewell, Apr 7, 2020.

  1. Jewell

    Jewell Incorrigible Gardener Plants Contributor

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    I planted golden bamboo gathered from a new house build that was on its way to the landfill 37 years ago. All of the golden bamboo was going to seed and dying in our region. Unusual occurrence. I kept the flower/seeds from developing and mine survived. The news said this was a once in twenty year occurrence. My thinking was if I don’t like it the bamboo will die...no problem. Well, news people are often ill informed and this was one of those cases. It lives on with no flowering, but it has decided to spread its feet recently. In its 37th year it has gotten very robust. Since I have extra time on my hands I have decided to trench along the path. I will bark only on the far side of the path away from the bamboo.

    Would I ever plant bamboo again? No.
    Was it handy to have? Yes, made lots of trellises and fences from the stakes in the past. This was probably what kept it in check. Harvest, harvest, harvest. I will definitely be doing more of that a little later. The soil has been beautiful for a terracing project I am currently working on.

    My son and his girl friend live with us and this will be their problem in the future. Since I have extra time I will do them a favor for the time being. Ripping it out is way beyond my pay grade though.

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  3. mart

    mart Strong Ash

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    You are braver than I am ! I wish I had some switch cane but not bamboo ! I am now trying to eliminate (kill) some papyrus I was dumb enough to plant ! Tried every kind of poison we have here and it just keeps coming back ! Roots are like a rock and impossible to dig up ! Ideas anyone ?
     
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  4. Jewell

    Jewell Incorrigible Gardener Plants Contributor

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    Sound like my problem. When the shelter in place is over I’d like to rent a ditch-witch and not just trench but cut it up and back to the fence line. I saw where someone had used on to remove bamboo away from a side walk in the neighborhood. Don’t know why you couldn’t use one to illuminate it. Might not work but worth a try...as long as you don’t spread it. I don’t know what papyrus roots are like....or maybe you could make some scrolls?:shrug:
     
  5. Luis_pr

    Luis_pr New Seed

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    You are very brave planting bamboo. There is a house near me where they planted bamboo more than 20 years ago to block part of their pool fence and this year, lots of bamboo are browned out. Not sure if the roots are ok or if they will regrow but, it seems they got hit in the Fall of 2019 by an unexpected, early freeze that also zapped many other plants as well. If you ever want to remove them, call the weather channel and order some early cold temps in the Fall! Hee, hee. hee.
     
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  6. mart

    mart Strong Ash

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    Luis_pr Now that would be an idea but since you are in Texas as I am you know last few years we have had little cold weather ! Even if we did I do not think it would hurt the papyrus roots ! They are like underground concrete ! Tops die down every year ! It has no natural enemies ! My grasshoppers even turn it down !
    Ditch witch would be good had I not been stupid and planted it right over a water line ! Don`t get me wrong,, its pretty and did what I intended,,hide the faucet area,,but it also multiplied which I did not know at the time I planted it !
    Oh,, sorry,, thought you meant the papyrus,, Jewell has the bamboo ! Different plants,, same problem !
     
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