Removing clumping bamboo with a stump bucket?

bambam31

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I’ve got some dense clumping bamboo stumps I want to remove from my yard. It’s not a project I want to start any time soon but I’m evaluating the removal options. I tried digging them up with my loader bucket but it was like digging into a brick wall. I don’t own a stump bucket but I’d sure buy one if it’ll do the job. It‘s an unusual question but I’d thought I’d ask. i also thought about hiring a forestry muncher to grind them down.
 

Donystoy

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I just rent a stump grinder from the local rental depot. Had one last year for 8 hours and cost just over $100. Had a few 12" to 16" Beach nut stumps to remove.
 
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North Idaho Wolfman

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If you grind them down they will be back in short order!
This sounds like a good job for a mini ex!
 
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imnukensc

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Agreed. Grinding down bamboo won't get rid of it. I've heard the only way to get rid of bamboo is to move.
 
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Donystoy

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Beachnut when ground down also start sprouting up all over the ground from the root spread. I spray the new growth with round up. They eventually die over time with the spray and mowing . Not sure it would work with bamboo.
 

i7win7

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no experience with bamboo, tree puller maybe?
20170826_131854.jpg
 

Mlarv

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Bamboo is a grass of sorts. It will hold the dirt together during flooding etc. great for privacy.

Bamboo is a pain to get rid of. I would rent a mini ex and make sure I got as many roots as I could find. I have a propane burner to burn the roots that I can’t pull. Use a good herbicide to spray down the area.

Good luck
 
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dirtydeed

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I'd have to agree with the above comments. Forget about a stump bucket and rent a (sizeable) machine to dig them out.

I did it once long ago as a landscaping job with an old BX23. It was friggin awful. :mad: Bamboo is really tough stuff to dig. I wouldn't do it again with anything less than a mini-excavator.

If you just have several clumps, any chance that they were planted with rhizome barrier? If not, you could be chasing them for quite some time.
 

skeets

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I hate bamboo,, I have dug,, sprayed ,, cussed,, burned and it still comes back I swear that stuff thrives on hate !
 
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Freeheeler

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I hate bamboo,, I have dug,, sprayed ,, cussed,, burned and it still comes back I swear that stuff thrives on hate !
Well, the stuff at my dad's place is gonna thrive cause I'm gonna hate all over it with the backhoe once ski season is over. I had planned on digging it out, burning the exposed pit, and filling back in. From reading this, it sounds like I should look into some form of chemical hate as well.
 

fried1765

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Well, the stuff at my dad's place is gonna thrive cause I'm gonna hate all over it with the backhoe once ski season is over. I had planned on digging it out, burning the exposed pit, and filling back in. From reading this, it sounds like I should look into some form of chemical hate as well.
In my opinion your best choice would be to avoid all digging.
You will simply be replanting many small shoots for regrowth.
Mow it down with a brush hog!
This will leave ragged little cut stumps.

Then apply a strong mixture of a woody plant control spray (Gordon's brush killer).
Use a bac-pak sprayer, or any hand held sprayer, to soak the spray into the top of each individual little stump.
If you are comfortable doing so, use diesel rather than water to make the spray mix.

You will likely need to do a later clean up spray as well.
 
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Freeheeler

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In my opinion your best choice would be to avoid all digging.
You will simply be replanting many small shoots for regrowth.
Mow it down with a brush hog!
This will leave ragged little cut stumps.

Then apply a strong mixture of a woody plant control spray (Gordon's brush killer).
Use a bac-pak sprayer, or any hand held sprayer, to soak the spray into the top of each individual little stump.
If you are comfortable doing so, use diesel rather than water to make the spray mix.

You will likely need to do a later clean up spray as well.
That sounds a lot less fun (no angry digging), but a whole lot faster and less work. Thanks, I'll definitely look into that.
 

Tim Horton

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Mar 22, 2018
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In my opinion your best choice would be to avoid all digging.
You will simply be replanting many small shoots for regrowth.
Mow it down with a brush hog!
This will leave ragged little cut stumps.

Then apply a strong mixture of a woody plant control spray
--- ---
The only thing bamboo here in the far north bush is a split bamboo back scratcher...

However... We have an invasive brush that is solid trunked but grows in bunches similar...

Like said, brush hog, chain saw, long handle brush lopper it as close to the ground as possible.. I then paint the cut ends with a small brush and strait from the bottle Round Up... Maybe not the best solution, but it does seem to work well..

Like said.... DO NOT, DO NOT disk, sub soil, or other tillage tool use to the root system... It seems every cut in the root system will send up another plant...

It is not a fast process, and requires time to implement, but reasonably cheap solution....

My 5 cents of experience...