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Gardening

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Bamboo identification please

12 replies

user1471530109 · 13/04/2021 13:23

Me again. The pictures are of some bamboo that has come through from nextdoor. The plant ID app says either black bamboo or fish pole bamboo. Both according to Google Blush say they are clumping and non-invasive.

Is there anyone who is able to confirm this from these photos? The canes are dark green, not black.
Thanks Brew

Bamboo identification please
Bamboo identification please
OP posts:
Proudboomer · 13/04/2021 19:00

I wouldn’t worry what type it is but get rid anyway.
Even the clump forming bamboo will spread if not kept in check as this clearly has.

user1471530109 · 13/04/2021 21:23

Thanks @Proudboomer. I've managed to saw several canes from the clump but it's not easy stuck between the fence and the shed. I've read they don't grow back if you cut the canes. But I'm not 100% sure what I'm doing and I've read so many horror stories!
I actually love bamboo and love the sound it makes in the wind. I'm just anxious about it spreading.

Any tips welcome Gin

OP posts:
Proudboomer · 13/04/2021 23:20

Cut it back and put a root barrier along your border. You can buy purpose made barriers or you could use thick plastic if you have it.

Just cutting the canes won’t kill it as the rhizomes underground will regrow in fact cutting the canes will encourage fresh growth.
Old canes are pretty tough against systematic weed killers like
glyphosate So if you want to use weed killer then cut the old canes down and wait for the new growth. As the new growth starts coming through spray with glyphosate.i would respray every two weeks whilst it is actively growing as glyphosate works by stopping the plant from producing the enzyme it needs for growth.

Another way to kill it would to use Ammonium Sulphamate.
Ammonium Sulphamate Has been banned by the EU for use as a weed killer but it is still available and sold as a compost accelerator. So if you buy it but trip and spill it over the bamboo on the way to the compost heap no laws have been broken😁
It works completely differently than glyphosate as you don’t put it on the plant but the soil around it. But once down nothing will grow there for about 6 months until it naturally turns into sulphate of ammonia which is a fertiliser for soil.
Even though banned i much prefer using Ammonium Sulphamate if I really need to use a weed killer as unlike glyphosate it is not carcinogenic.Why it has been banned as a herbicide when roundup and the like have not god only knows.

Cakeonthefloor · 14/04/2021 08:02

The fact it has come from next door suggests it may be invasive.

user1471530109 · 14/04/2021 10:56

@Cakeonthefloor that's what I'm worried about. It's a shame because I actually really like it. I'm tempted to propagate it and put it in pots. If I knew it was easy and worked Grin.

@Proudboomer, is it ammonium sulphamate or ammonium sulphate? The latter is on amazon but it reads very much like I'll be adding nitrogen to improve growth! I know you said it's a soil improver. Off to look some more. ..

OP posts:
Proudboomer · 14/04/2021 11:07

This is the one I buy
www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004MMOEH2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?psc=1&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&ie=UTF8
It is out of stock at the moment on amazon but if you put Ammonium Sulphamate into a eBay search you will find it.

Proudboomer · 14/04/2021 11:14

Don’t mix it up with sulphate of ammonia which is sold as a fertizer. sulphate of ammonia Is what ammonium Sulphamate naturally breaks down into as it comes into contact with oxygen hence why it is better than the likes of round up as it doesn’t leave harmful chemicals in the soil. Nature breaks it down after a period of months into something that is good for your soil.

user1471530109 · 14/04/2021 12:53

Fantastic, thank you!

OP posts:
Cakeonthefloor · 14/04/2021 19:25

Just chop a bit off and shove it in a pot. I have some lovely pot bamboo via that method.

user1471530109 · 14/04/2021 21:07

@Cakeonthefloor will do! That's amazing Grin thank you

OP posts:
HedgleyTheHedgehog · 14/04/2021 21:21

OP, my Dad has that bamboo and it's extremely aggressive. It has taken over parts of his garden and lifted concrete slabs

I planted some in my garden as well and dug it up last year as it was going everywhere and lifting block paving. New bits are now coming up even though we thought we'd got rid of it all

You'll need to dig down and put in some sort of barrier or get the neighbour to remove it altogether

I will never plant bamboo again

user1471530109 · 14/04/2021 22:45

Shock Sad.

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