[JayG]

This was a cute little Fargesia bamboo bought in a small pot from the "rescue" section in BNQ 5 years ago or so, and although it's a clumping type and has been quite well behaved (as bamboos go  ) as you can see its getting a bit out of hand now and I'm contemplating digging it up. 

Has anyone tried digging up a bamboo?  I've tried Gurgling root depth and so on, and descriptions seem to range from a manageable foot or so of fibrous grassy roots through to something altogether more daunting. 

Your good or bad experiences could be helpful. 

[diospyros]

What happens if you just cut it all down?  Would it grow back a bit more timidly?  I don't know, I'm just wondering.

[Annen]

There was a bamboo on my previous plot and there was no way it was ever going to be dug up except by a JCB!  I ended up just containing it to one corner by using the loppers on the rope-like roots as I came across them. But they could have been used for garden canes I suppose if they were dried.

[JayG]

This is a much more shrubby type Annen (I have a different one which produces decent canes on the other side of the garden although that's also very much getting into its stride now!  )

It readily re-grows even after being chopped down Diospyros - it's got to come out if I'm ever going to grow anything else there. 

[New shoot]

There tends to be a very hard wood-like lump of root in the centre of established bamboos, which could be difficult to shift.  I worked on a specimen plant nursery where we would periodically split and re-pot the older bamboo stock and you would end up sawing through the rootball.  Looked drastic and the plants usually dropped their leaves, but then came back as heathly pot fulls. 

The outer bits should be fibrous and pull out in sections, so you could at least get those out and get the plant back under control.  If you can't get a spade in, an old pruning saw can be used to hack lumps off.  I wouldn't worry about root damage.  As I've said above, bamboos can be shocked by it, but they always seem to come back 

[fatcat1955]

Get as many of the off shoots you can with root attached. put them on fleabay and retire.

[grinling]

I moved 4 last year as they were behind the shed. There were shallow rooted and cutout all the dead wood..canes for veg.
It should be possible to cut it in 2 if you need to.

[JayG]

Looks like I'll be sharpening my trusty spade and proceeding with caution and with everything crossed, which will no doubt amuse the neighbours when I fall over! 

Thanks for your replies - I'll let you know how I get on (but don't hold your breath!)

[allotmentann]

I hope the digging goes well. I love bamboo, but have always been too terrified of managing it to plant one. I did buy a Sacred Bamboo, which I was assured is nothing at all to do with bamboo, but is still very beautiful. The one in your photo looks beautiful. I have several shrubs I have recently had to take drastic action with, it is a shame as they are gorgeous, but they reach a point where nothing else will have a chance if they are left to their own devices.   

[JayG]

Yes, although this winter has been more than averagely kind to it it is a very handsome plant - just too much of it now.

Being a bit of a softy I may try to find a "safe" spot for a small piece of it - that will probably depend on how sick of the sight of it I become when trying to dig it out! 

[sunshineband]

Some years ago I joined a working party to remove the bamboo that had run amok round the pond in our local park.

It was quite a mission, with those huge knotted woody bits that New Shoot mentioned, that we crow barred out of the ground in the end, and ceremoniously burnt them on a bonfire, with snowflakes swirling around our heads one February. The plaque to thank the group is still in situ, but the bamboo was all removed thank goodness 

I hope you manage to get your up and out, JayG, lovely though it is.

At home we restrain ours in large pots 

[Asherweef]

I just lopped all of mine last night… Going to be taking a spade to it in the morning so I'll update you. I don't care for bamboo so it's going!

[Goosegirl]

I have a feeling that Fargesia isn't as invasive as some other bamboos; however, dig up as much as you can then put some strong weedkiller over the cut ends, then cover them with some tied-on plastic so it doesn't get washed off. I don't know if you have other plants in the near area, so be careful.

[grinling]

mine isn't invasive and makes a lovely sound when the wind goes through it.

[bravemurphy]

We put ours in as a green fence and I contained it by burying a concrete slab upright and about 6 inches out of the ground to stop it creeping.