Controling Bamboo
 

Things are starting to pop here in Portland. I've got Culms the sizee
of my wrist that are just hitting 5 to 6 feet. Other a bit bigger than
the diameter of quarter is already taller than I am (6'2"). So far
everything is running in directions that are more or less convenient. I
put a few bungee cords on some culms to kake sure they stayed out of
the fence until they were tall enough not get tangled up too badly.

I see the threads about controlling the runners and thought I'd throw
in my 2 cents. I have an old electric chainsaw I got at a yard sale for
$5. Twice a year I just run the chainsaw straight into the ground along
the borders of acceptable Bamboo spread. Once in a while, I use a
hatchet for a hard to reach spot. So far, so good.

I tried the sharp shovel technique and found the rhyzomes to be a tough
adversary. The chainsaw slices through like butter (almost).

All the best,

Eliot

I think many of my sharpening customers do the same thing.