invasive plants

Bamboo Gone Wild

Bamboo shoots that I have cut in my garden.

@LadyDuck (471355)

Switzerland

June 4, 2016 10:31am CST

Bamboo can be a nice ornamental plant, but it can become invasive as a garden weed. We have planted bamboo 17 years ago and never had problems, it has been contained in a specific area and never spread to other areas. This year I have noticed some bamboo shoots coming out from the middle of the lawn. I have already removed all the unwanted bamboo shoots. Tomorrow I will dig out several clumps of bamboo to restrict the size, so that the new shoots have space to grow in the restricted area without invading the garden. The bamboo grows very fast. You can see in the small pictures a young shoot in the lawn. The bigger picture shows, bamboo shoots 1, 2 and 3 days old. If you plan to plant bamboo, be careful of which species you are going to plant.

76 people like this

82 responses

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

4 Jun 16

Surely the easy solution would be to keep a pet Giant Panda.

10 people like this

@LadyDuck (471355)

• Switzerland

4 Jun 16

That is an excellent ideal Barry. Do you believe that a zoo will give me one? I feed the Panda for free.

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@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

4 Jun 16

@LadyDuck There is always a chance that they may give one away when they give up waiting for it to breed.

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@LadyDuck (471355)

• Switzerland

4 Jun 16

@Asylum I wonder if the cat would appreciate to have a Panda in "his" garden. I have to check.

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@Inlemay (17713)

• South Africa

4 Jun 16

I have bamboo in my garden as well and it gets trimmed regularly - I think I would rather have a Panda to eat it - imagine a Panda in my garden - cute

8 people like this

@LadyDuck (471355)

• Switzerland

4 Jun 16

That is what suggested @Asylum, I have to ask to a zoo if they can send a Panda here in early May, I will keep until September.

3 people like this

@Inlemay (17713)

• South Africa

4 Jun 16

@LadyDuck Ah ha - him and I are always on the same wavelength it seems

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@ramapo17 (30441)

• Melbourne, Florida

5 Jun 16

I would love one too.

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@Marcyaz (35316)

• United States

4 Jun 16

What reason do you have for planting bamboo? Is it good for something and what is it used for as I thought it was only as a food for Panda Bears.

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@Marcyaz (35316)

• United States

5 Jun 16

@LadyDuck I had no idea you could grow it just anyplace as a barrier.

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@LadyDuck (471355)

• Switzerland

5 Jun 16

We planted the bamboo because it is fast growing and we wanted to "cut" the view to our garden from the neighbors.

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@LadyDuck (471355)

• Switzerland

5 Jun 16

@Marcyaz Yes, the important is to have a concrete enclosure for the running bamboo, not all the species needs to be contained.

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@topffer (42156)

• France

4 Jun 16

One of my neighbors has the same problem. She does not know that young bamboo shoots are a delicacy

. As you speak French, I give you a link. I have tasted some fresh bamboo shoots and I can assure you that it is better than in a canned box, lucky you

.

Mangez vos pousses de bambous. | Conseils Coaching Jardinage | des conseils pour votre jardin

www.conseils-coaching-jardinage.fr

Comme je vous l’avais dit à la fin de mon précédent article sur “comment broyer les bambous” voici maintenant “ comment manger les pousses de bambous”. Cet article a été écrit par Kara, une de mes lectrices, qui cuisine et mange régulièrement des pousses d

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@LadyDuck (471355)

• Switzerland

5 Jun 16

Thank you for the link. What I do not know is if every the shoots of every kind of bamboo are edible. Now I check because my husband likes the bamboo shoots and he wanted to eat those that I removed.

3 people like this

@LadyDuck (471355)

• Switzerland

5 Jun 16

@ChesneyM The shoots in my photo are more or less as big as a bottle, they look skinny because they are already grown a lot. Those ones are surely not good to eat. I checked the link, mine are bigger than those shown as edible.

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@LadyDuck (471355)

• Switzerland

5 Jun 16

@ChesneyM You are right, the fresh ones are so much better.

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@rebelann (112780)

• El Paso, Texas

5 Jun 16

I wish it would grow here but I'd want the clumping variety the runners are no fun after a while.

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@rebelann (112780)

• El Paso, Texas

5 Jun 16

Have you looked into finding the clumping variety @LadyDuck ? Those do not have runners and tend to stay in one spot.

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@LadyDuck (471355)

• Switzerland

6 Jun 16

@rebelann Our variety is not one of the most invading and it is contained in a concrete enclosure. The gardener this afternoon comes and check where is the problem in the enclosure.

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@LadyDuck (471355)

• Switzerland

5 Jun 16

You are right, the runners must be contained to avoid that they spread everywhere.

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@miniam (9154)

• Bern, Switzerland

4 Jun 16

I really do not like bamboo trees, they can quickly get out of control and turn into a bush.

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@LadyDuck (471355)

• Switzerland

5 Jun 16

@miniam As we had no problems for 17 years, I suppose the concrete enclosure is good enough to contain the plants, if only one escaped it's not a big deal.

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@LadyDuck (471355)

• Switzerland

5 Jun 16

I have trimmed a lot yesterday and tomorrow the gardener comes to check if there is a problem in the concrete enclosure. This is surely the case, so a root has escaped.

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@miniam (9154)

• Bern, Switzerland

5 Jun 16

@LadyDuck Let`s hope the gardener brings some good news.

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@silvermist (19702)

• India

4 Jun 16

@LadyDuck Now I do not have a garden.But even when I had one I did not have bamboos.Hope you can check them spreading .

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@silvermist (19702)

• India

5 Jun 16

@LadyDuck Good idea,but a lot of work.

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@LadyDuck (471355)

• Switzerland

6 Jun 16

@silvermist Yes, it's a lot of work.

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@LadyDuck (471355)

• Switzerland

4 Jun 16

Yes, I think that cutting some plants and making more space in the protected area, I should be able to contain it. If not, I will dig and remove the roots where needed.

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@jaboUK (64354)

• United Kingdom

4 Jun 16

I've never grown that, never really had the room. I didn't know it was as invasive as that.

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@LadyDuck (471355)

• Switzerland

4 Jun 16

Thank you Janet, of course the spelling checker found that "invasive pants" was not a mistake. I have spent a lot of time trimming the existing one today and I have removed as many dried stalks as I could. I hope the problem is over.

2 people like this

@LadyDuck (471355)

• Switzerland

4 Jun 16

@jaboUK Now the sprouting season is almost over. The next year if I see that the problem starts over, I call a gardener and I ask to dig a trench all around and to add a new plastic barrier.

2 people like this

@jaboUK (64354)

• United Kingdom

4 Jun 16

@LadyDuck Yes I hope you've got the better of it.

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@Jessicalynnt (50523)

• Centralia, Missouri

5 Jun 16

that does indeed grow FAST

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@LadyDuck (471355)

• Switzerland

5 Jun 16

Yes it does, it rained Friday and I was unable to go out and cut the bamboo shoots and the day after they have more than doubled in size.

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@LadyDuck (471355)

• Switzerland

6 Jun 16

@Jessicalynnt Plant the bamboo in big plastic containers, you will have no problems at all.

@Jessicalynnt (50523)

• Centralia, Missouri

6 Jun 16

@LadyDuck I want some bamboo, but am afraid to have any because of stuff like this

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@JamesHxstatic (29413)

• Eugene, Oregon

4 Jun 16

I have heard that bamboo is best planted in containers in order to curb its tendency to spread and take over. You are smart to stay ahead of it.

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@LadyDuck (471355)

• Switzerland

4 Jun 16

We have put a plastic barrier before planting the bamboo, and then we cemented the area, it should not have run out, I have to check if there is a leakage somewhere and add a plastic barrier.

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@LadyDuck (471355)

• Switzerland

4 Jun 16

@JamesHxstatic I also like the bamboo and it's green also in winter.

@JamesHxstatic (29413)

• Eugene, Oregon

4 Jun 16

@LadyDuck Great idea, I like the way bamboo looks.

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@DianneN (247186)

• United States

4 Jun 16

We can't grow it here, thank goodness, but it grows in Florida. I plant certain spreading plants in containers, directly into the soil.

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@LadyDuck (471355)

• Switzerland

5 Jun 16

We have planted the bamboo into a concrete enclosure, it has never spread for 17 years. I think there is a problem somewhere in the barrier and one root has escaped. Tomorrow I call the gardener to check.

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@LadyDuck (471355)

• Switzerland

6 Jun 16

@DianneN The gardener showed up early this morning, it's only a long root from a plant, he comes in the afternoon with a helper and they remove the unwanted roots.

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@DianneN (247186)

• United States

5 Jun 16

@LadyDuck You certainly don't want it popping up in your lawn! Good luck.

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Valerie J. Routhieaux

@just4him (317040)

• Green Bay, Wisconsin

4 Jun 16

It does grow fast. I didn't know you could grow bamboo in Switzerland.

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@LadyDuck (471355)

• Switzerland

4 Jun 16

Yes, it grows very well here, but sometimes I wonder if it really was a great idea to plant the bamboo. We wanted to shade an area to cover the view to our house.

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@LadyDuck (471355)

• Switzerland

4 Jun 16

@just4him I knew it was but I thought that the barrier would have stopped it to invade the garden.

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Valerie J. Routhieaux

@just4him (317040)

• Green Bay, Wisconsin

4 Jun 16

@LadyDuck I didn't know it was an invasive plant/tree.

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@Lucky15 (37374)

• Philippines

4 Jun 16

Roots had crawled far. Glad you have them removed. Indeed invasive. That one is not the one that is being eaten too

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@LadyDuck (471355)

• Switzerland

5 Jun 16

Toffer added a link into a comment, it seems that all the bamboo shoots are edible, even if some are a bit tart. My husband likes them, I will ask if he wants to try.

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@Lucky15 (37374)

• Philippines

5 Jun 16

@LadyDuck oh..i thought.only some. We always add.them to few dishes.here.

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@thelme55 (76944)

• Germany

5 Jun 16

@LadyDuck you can stir fry them like fried noodles with or without meat. Now I am hungry for this food

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@ridingbet (66854)

• Philippines

5 Jun 16

there is a type of bamboo here that grows in pots. it is like a bonsai bamboo.

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@LadyDuck (471355)

• Switzerland

5 Jun 16

We needed a tall bamboo to cut the view to our property, we also have bamboo that grows in pots, it's very small.

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@LadyDuck (471355)

• Switzerland

5 Jun 16

@ridingbet Yes, they are pretty.

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@ridingbet (66854)

• Philippines

5 Jun 16

@LadyDuck yes and these small bamboos in vases and pots are good decors inside our homes.

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Belle Starr (Iz)

@BelleStarr (61102)

• United States

6 Jun 16

I have never tried to grow bamboo. I do like the look of it though

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@LadyDuck (471355)

• Switzerland

6 Jun 16

I love it too, it seems the gardener has found the problem in the concrete enclosure. We are going to take care of the matter and to fix it.

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@transcendent (709)

• Xian, China

6 Jun 16

But the bamboo is useful for those living in the countryside.

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@jstory07 (139579)

• Roseburg, Oregon

4 Jun 16

I guess you should not plant to many and than you will be fine.

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@LadyDuck (471355)

• Switzerland

5 Jun 16

We planted 5 small plants 17 years ago into a concrete enclosure. This is the first year that I have a problem.

@Juliaacv (51111)

• Canada

5 Jun 16

I have never had a bamboo plant, and now I do not plan on getting any. Its not something that would suit the décor of our gardening currently, and I have enough plants that spread and I don't want any more.

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@LadyDuck (471355)

• Switzerland

5 Jun 16

You can plant the bamboo if you are sure to contain it in a concrete enclosure, better if you also add plastic barriers. Our bamboo is there from 17 years, this is the first year that I have a problem. I suspect a problem in the concrete.

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@JudyEv (339591)

• Rockingham, Australia

7 Jun 16

I can hardly believe there is only a day's difference between each of those shoots. That is a really fast-growing plant.

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@LadyDuck (471355)

• Switzerland

7 Jun 16

Those are thin compared to others that grew in the concrete enclosure. It is incredible to watch them grow every day. In about one week they can reach 3 meters.

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@LadyDuck (471355)

• Switzerland

8 Jun 16

@JudyEv Several myLotters suggested a Panda, so I checked online the videos of Panda eating bamboo and I have noticed that they eat the leaves and ignore the rest. This is not exactly what I want.

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@JudyEv (339591)

• Rockingham, Australia

8 Jun 16

@LadyDuck Goodness! Maybe you do need a pet panda then!

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@OKennedy (1130)

• United States

5 Jun 16

I like the way they look but I don't need the extra work for myself I think the bonsai trees look awesome too.

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@LadyDuck (471355)

• Switzerland

5 Jun 16

The bamboo remained in its contained barrier for 17 years, I suppose that the barrier has split in the corner. I have to fix the problem.

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@LadyDuck (471355)

• Switzerland

6 Jun 16

@OKennedy So true, today the gardener comes with a helper and they dig out the unwanted roots.

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@OKennedy (1130)

• United States

5 Jun 16

@LadyDuck That is a problem with plants keeping them contained isn't always easy and when they have broken out of their confinement we are left trying to figure out how to contain it again and all the while its a lost cause because they tend to grow faster than we are able to do much.

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@responsiveme (22926)

• India

8 Jun 16

@LadyDuck. While people plant bamboo as an ornamental plant in city gardens usually bamboo is a wild plant here it grows everywhere,All houses in the country have bamboo groves. Bamboo is a very useful plant. We don't need Pandas to eat up the invasive shoots

(though having one in the garden would definitely be cute). Bamboo shoots with pork is one of my favourite dishes. I was travelling yesterday and seeing bamboo all around ,I was thinking of you and your post.

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@LadyDuck (471355)

• Switzerland

8 Jun 16

Of course bamboo is not a native Swiss plant, but many have planted bamboo in the garden because it's an evergreen. I buy canned bamboo shoots to prepare Asian dishes, I should try to cook those that grow in my garden and check if they are good.

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@LadyDuck (471355)

• Switzerland

8 Jun 16

@responsiveme I have read that boiling them changing the water several times make them safe to eat, but I prefer to ask before to try. Thanks for your advice.

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@responsiveme (22926)

• India

8 Jun 16

@LadyDuck I don't think you should .Suppose they are a poisonous variety.So do ask an expert before you try.

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