On Feb 7, 12:40*pm, "David E. Ross" wrote:
On 2/6/12 5:24 PM, Sonny wrote [in part]:

Bamboo is a grass. *You can chop it down, but it will sprout back
out. *You either have to dig up the roots, also, or kill the plant
with a herbicide. *Check with the nearest forest service, as they have
a potent enough tree killer that will do the job and only they are
allowed to use that herbicide. *I doubt you can do that big of job,
yourself.

Yes, bamboo is a giant grass. *However, you do not want to use a
tree-killing herbicide.

There are herbicides that specifically target grass, killing both the
visible growth and also the roots but generally not damaging non-grass
plants. *I use Grass Getter, but there are others. *These are best used
when the grass is actively growing.

I suggest you have the area cleared. *Any piece of bamboo remaining --
if it includes an internode (joint) -- can root and sprout. *Thus, what
is cut must be hauled away

In the spring, fertilize the area well and make sure the soil remains
moist. *When new bamboo shoots are about 1-2 ft high, spray with a
grass-killing herbicide mixed with some liquid soap. *The soap ensures
that the spray really wets the bamboo. *You might have to repeat this
treatment a few times. *Be sure to treat any new shoots that grow beyond
the current patch; running bamboo can send its underground runners many
feet away from existing shoots.

--
David E. Ross
Climate: *California Mediterranean, see
http://www.rossde.com/garden/climate.html
Gardening diary at http://www.rossde.com/garden/diary

Thank you David, and everyone else for the responses thus far. The
county would not be opposed to this, but would ask for grading permits
if we were to do any serious excavation. Just cutting it all down
wouldn't require any notice of the gov't. One of the neighbors
informed us that the old homeowner used to sell/give the bamboo to the
National Zoo for its Panda. No joke!

100,000 lbs is a lot of bamboo! I don't think that's far off though.
It is very dense, hard to walk through even, and the heights range
from 10 to 30 feet in spots. I'll get some pictures, its quite a sight
to see.

Theres a new problem of some possible underground utilities and maybe
a septic field amidst the bamboo. This could explain the rapid growth.
We'll have to use caution with mowers and tractors until we know where
that is.

Thanks again for all the responses thus far.