Question: What can I use to get rid of bamboo? Our neighbors planted it along a bank several years ago and now it’s invading our landscape.

Answer: Bamboo is one of the most difficult “weeds” to eliminate. It’s a strong-growing grass with very heavy fleshy roots. You can use one of the glyphosates or similar products, but you’ll need a fair amount of leaf growth. These weedkillers enter the plants only through their leaves, so the more leaves you have, the better the control will be. You’ll certainly need to use the top rates of application listed on the label, and you’ll have to protect any turf or other plants that might be hit by the spray. It would also help immensely if you could dig a trench at your property line, then install some type of permanent and deep edging material. Fiberglass sheets might be one example. Your barrier needs to be at least 16 to 18 inches deep to prevent the invasion of the bamboo’s roots. A subsurface wall of concrete extending down 24 to 30 inches would be even better. You’ll probably have a certain amount of hand-digging as well. You’re living proof of why we should never use the invasive golden bamboo in our landscapes.

And a post Neil put on Facebook to warn people about bamboo…

If you have ever considered planting golden bamboo as a privacy screen, this photo should keep you awake nights. You and your neighbors would live to regret it. Those are 30-foot eastern redcedars that are being consumed by this horrific plant. See the power lines at the top of the photo! Bamboo sends rhizomes far and wide as it engulfs its surroundings. I’ve seen it come up on the other side of a driveway and even a 2-lane concrete street. This plant is really bad news. Avoid it at all costs. I do not have an easy solution to its removal. The Dallas Arboretum brought in front-end loaders to dig theirs up. Sprays just aren’t strong enough. To stop its spread, you probably need to cut a 26- to 30-inch trench and fill it with concrete. There just isn’t a lot of help I can give.