How to Get Rid of Bamboo Roots [Video]

Many experiences have indicated that digging up clump-forming bamboo or running bamboo is a tedious task. Yet, using the right bamboo digging tools is the key to making a heavy job lighter. Here, you’ll see a video of our work in the bamboo garden showing the tools we use when removing bamboo rhizomes. It aims show you how to get rid of bamboo roots.

How to get rid of bamboo roots

The correct tools make the job easier. If you are planning to dig and remove bamboo plants, you will need the five hand tools listed below.

Firstly, here are the important make-up of the root system of clumping and running bamboo plants.

Running Bamboo Roots:

The rhizomes of the Running Bamboo Plants run horizontally away from the parent plant and also intertwine with other rhizomes, plant roots and anything in their way.

A long-handled tool with a pointed tip gives you access and provides the lever you need to remove the bamboo deep underground.

Clump-forming Bamboo Roots:

The clump-base of the clump-forming bamboo plants is often tightly packed together, tough and strong.

The best way to deal with it is to work your way through the clump base from one side and chip off bit by bit until you remove the bamboo.

Perhaps the most important point is to use a long-handled hand tool to give you the leverage you need to uproot the bamboo.

Although, the bamboos do NOT grow deep into the soil. It will require a lot of digging, cutting and pulling.

Tools You Need and Tips Video

The list of the top 5 Hand Tools (and alternatives) you should have when digging up bamboo roots/rhizomes.

1. Pickaxe (or mattock) – For digging bamboo roots and clumps.
2. Wrecking bar (or crowbar) – access the rhizomes and break up the solid clumps.
3. Garden Rake – clear the working area off loose soils and leaves.
4. Pair of Secateurs – cut the root hairs, small culms and rhizomes.
5. Pair of Garden Loppers (or hand saw)– cut the bulky clumps and rhizomes.

Where you Buy Bamboo Digging Tool:  Check out this page for more information about the digging tools we used in the videos  and where to buy them.

Our experience digging up bamboo roots

Our running bamboo plants are in great shape providing the evergreen cover over many years. It is always a delight to see the new delicate bamboo shoots in Spring or the old plants dancing in the wind in Summer. Never a dull moment.

But, it is hard work to maintain them. Tedious. Here are some bamboo Grow & Care tips we shared earlier.

• Natural Ways to Remove Bamboo Permanently 
• How to Cut and Remove Bamboo Rhizomes Using Hand Tools

The correct tool is the pickaxe and garden loopers. Highly recommended for anyone wanting to remove or dig up their bamboo plants.

Hand tools for removing bamboo

The 5 tools mentioned in this article are all you need to dig and remove the bamboo.

To recap here are the 5 tools: Pickaxe (or mattock), Wrecking bar (or crowbar), Garden Rake, Pair of Secateurs and Pair of Garden Loppers (or hand saw).

Pickaxe and Wrecking bar are must-haves.

Check out the videos of our work in the Bamboo Garden here and also on YouTube.