Severe drought in Georgia, bamboo fighting

[jamesp]

Te leaves have been curled for 6-7 weeks trying to hide from the sun.
Preventing transevaporation, moisture leaving thru the leaves and pulling all the moisture from the roots.
No fallen leaves yet.
Supposed to get a lot of rain in 2 days, will cure the drought issue if it hits.
Over 2 months, no rain. Worst Sept Oct Nov in 30+ years.

[Mark K]

Everybody was bamboo fighting,

Hoo Haa

That crap just grows like lightning,

Hoo Haa

My F-ed up lawn is frightning,

Hoo Haa

But I 2-4-Ded with expert timing.

[jamesp]

LOL, 2-4-D works on bamboo ? It laughs at Round-Up.

[Mark K]

It fit into the pattern. I doubt it because it is a grass.

[spiceman]

Borax might be worth a try. I had creeping charle real bad and after one treatment it was gone.

[jamesp]

Salt, it hates salt. So does everything else though.

[MrMike]

Nov 26, 2016 23:05:52 GMT -5 spiceman said:

Borax might be worth a try. I had creeping charle real bad and after one treatment it was gone.

How long will borax stay in the soil. Got a bunch of bamboo I've been trying to kill.

[jamesp]

Problem with bamboo is that the roots have growing nodes that live for a long time.
Roots that average a foot in the ground. Takes too much poison.
You can continue mowing for 3-4 years 2-3 times per year.

A spring tooth subsoil harrow run 2 feet down will do it in quickest. Requires big tractor.
Or a shallow disc 3 times a year for a couple of years keeping new sprouts covered with soil with smaller tractor.

Last year I started pulling a 2 disc Dearborn turning plow thru a cut down grove. It broke one of the disc axles.
You need to wait 2-3 years for the main root system to rot some before a small 40 HP tractor can pull any plow thru it.

Looking at your photo, I would disc it 3 times a year. Or plow and plant fescue and keep it mowed.

[rockjunquie]

That curling action is a really cool defense mechanism. Smart, very smart..... for a plant.

[jamesp]

Nov 27, 2016 11:22:21 GMT -5 rockjunquie said:

That curling action is a really cool defense mechanism. Smart, very smart..... for a plant.

Bamboo in the curled up mode. Can see it from 200 yards away. Tells a lot about the ground water.
That area a lower water table. Bamboo says so.

Some of the wetter spots on the hills. Hills often mean layered rock close to surface. Layered rock often mean springs.

Curled mode, stressed. Yet in a low area.:

[orrum]

Corn is bred to curl in a drought.

[orrum]

Corn is bred to curl in a drought.

[jamesp]

Nov 27, 2016 18:00:34 GMT -5 orrum said:

Corn is bred to curl in a drought.

Interesting. Makes good sense so the crop stands a better chance.

A good number of plants do that too.

Bamboo in high sun radiation locations have smaller leaves, shade lovers and those from cloudy locations have bigger leaves.

[spiceman]

Nov 27, 2016 0:31:28 GMT -5 MrMike said:

Nov 26, 2016 23:05:52 GMT -5 spiceman said:

Borax might be worth a try. I had creeping charle real bad and after one treatment it was gone.

How long will borax stay in the soil. Got a bunch of bamboo I've been trying to kill.

Don't know how long Borax stays in the soil but after I sprayed the area, fall ime. I still planted flowers the next spring in the same area.
It is worth a try...I think.

[MrMike]

Nov 27, 2016 20:09:22 GMT -5 spiceman said:

Nov 27, 2016 0:31:28 GMT -5 MrMike said:

How long will borax stay in the soil. Got a bunch of bamboo I've been trying to kill.

Don't know how long Borax stays in the soil but after I sprayed the area, fall ime. I still planted flowers the next spring in the same area.
It is worth a try...I think.

I'll definitely have to try it, thanks