Tordon will kill bamboo. However, to be effective, you must apply Tordon to freshly cut bamboo stems. When you use Tordon in this manner, the herbicide will be absorbed into the root system and kill the bamboo permanently. Two weeks after you use Tordon, you can dig up the dead bamboo roots.
5 Steps to Kill Bamboo with Tordon
Bamboo spreads quickly and is hard to kill. However, Tordon is an excellent herbicide for getting rid of invasive bamboo. Just follow these easy steps.
Inspect Your Bamboo Problem
In order to kill bamboo permanently, you need to find all the bamboo on your property. Start by looking for spreading bamboo shoots in problem areas. Place these marking flags beside small or hidden bamboo shoots.
- Locate all the areas on your property that have invasive bamboo.
- Mark bamboo problem areas with marking flags.
- Avoid using Tordon on bamboo growing under desirable trees.
It’s also important to check for bamboo that is growing near desirable trees or shrubs. Tordon can travel through the soil after application and kill nearby trees. So, do not use Tordon if the bamboo is growing under a tree you want to keep.
Cut the Bamboo
Before treating it with Tordon, cut your bamboo to a height of one to two inches (2.5–5 cm). For young bamboo, use a heavy duty brush mower. For thick bamboo, use loppers or a chainsaw.
- Cut all the bamboo to a height of 1–2 inches (2.5–5 cm).
- Tordon works best if the bamboo was cut immediately before application.
- Re-cut previously mowed bamboo to create a fresh bamboo wound.
Tordon kills bamboo best when it is applied to freshly cut bamboo stumps. You should apply Tordon within 30 minutes after cutting the bamboo. If you cut your bamboo before, cut it back again to expose fresh bamboo cuts. This will help the Tordon be more effective.
Apply Tordon RTU
Immediately after cutting your bamboo, paint this Tordon RTU solution onto the freshly made cut at the top of the stem. This will allow the Tordon to enter the plant through the wound. From there, it will work down to the roots and kill the entire bamboo plant.
- Effectively kills stumps with superior results.
- Easy-to-Use blue dye helps you keep track of stump treatment.
- Perfect for both in-season and off-season brush control.
- Apply Tordon to the top of each cut bamboo stem.
- Instead of painting each stem, use a sponge soaked with Tordon to quickly apply it.
- Wear gloves and breath protection when applying Tordon.
If you are applying Tordon to a large bamboo area, use this pump sprayer and a heavy-duty sponge to make the job easier. Wrap the sponge around the sprayer and secure it with string or tape. Then, pump and spray until the sponge is soaked with Tordon. Now, you can dab the Tordon-soaked sponge onto the top of each cut bamboo stem. This makes the job super fast.
Wait Two Weeks
It will take at least two weeks for the Tordon to completely kill the bamboo down to the roots. So, after application, remain patient. Do not try to dig the bamboo roots up in less than two weeks. Doing so can interrupt the herbicide process and allow the bamboo to survive.
- Tordon requires 14 days to fully kill bamboo.
- Do not attempt to remove Tordon-treated bamboo less than 2 weeks after treatment.
- Tordon will spread to all bamboo roots in the area and kill the plants.
If you see new bamboo sprouting in the treated area during the two weeks after application, don’t worry. The Tordon will kill all bamboo in the treated area with a little bit of time.
Dig up Dead Bamboo Roots
After two weeks have passed, you can now dig up the dead bamboo roots in the treated area. If you don’t dig them up, bamboo stumps can remain for years. Bamboo resists rot and decomposition.
- 2 weeks after Tordon application, remove the dead bamboo roots.
- Tordon remains in the soil for 90 days after application.
- Lingering Tordon in the soil can kill trees and other woody plants.
- Grass, herbs, flowers, and garden plants won’t be killed by Tordon.
After you have removed the dead bamboo, be careful about what you plant in the area. Tordon remains active in the soil for 90 days. Until this time has passed, do not plant any trees, shrubs, or vines in the area. Tordon will kill them. Grass and garden plants won’t be harmed by Tordon, so you can plant these varieties.
Is it Safe to Use Tordon to Kill Bamboo?
It is safe to use Tordon to kill Bamboo as long as the bamboo isn’t growing close to any desirable trees, vines, or bushes. Tordon can migrate through the soil and kill even large trees. So, if your problem bamboo is growing near a tree you love, use a different herbicide.
What Other Herbicides are Good for Killing Bamboo?
Crossbow is a powerful bamboo killer that can be applied to cut stumps or foliage. Plus, Crossbow won’t travel through the soil and kill desirable trees. Roundup can also be used to kill bamboo, but it may require repeat applications. Bamboo is very hardy and can be tough to kill.
- Size: 1 Quart.
- Contains 2-4, D and Triclopyr for control on most unwanted trees and brush.
- You can use this on non-crop and non-timber areas.
Can You Kill Bamboo with Tordon?
To kill bamboo with Tordon:
- Find and mark all the invasive bamboo on your property.
- Cut the bamboo shoots to a height of 1–2 inches (2.5–5 cm).
- Apply Tordon to the tops of the freshly cut bamboo.
- Wait 2 weeks for the Tordon to kill the bamboo roots.
- Dig up the dead bamboo roots.
Because it is a powerful tree killer, Tordon is excellent for killing bamboo. However, it can attack nearby trees. So, if your bamboo is growing near a shade tree, use Crossbow or Roundup instead. You can use these alternative herbicides instead of Tordon, but all the other steps of the bamboo-killing process remain the same.
