I had a small grove of P. nigra which got hit hard by the drought(s) that we've been experiencing here for the past several years. The grove became thinned-out enough to where it was opened up to weeds and vines and briars, etc.

I treated it with a mixture of Grazon and Remedy which I had left over from treating my fencelines here. I use double strength mixture for fencelines.

The bamboo was not harmed at all, and the grove was cleaned up quickly...a whole lot easier than weeding it by hand.

I guess it will depend on the type of herbicide that you will be using though.

Kt

Kt, Thanks for your input. I'll have to look up those herbicides. Has anyone else had a similar experience with other herbicides?

Also, Grazon and Remedy are both broadleaf herbicides which is probably what you will want to use since it is deigned to NOT affect grasses.

There are a number of other broadleaf herbicides that will work also.

Kt

Thanks all for the tips on weed control! I'll wait until my boo's have finished shooting and then apply this stuff while the weeds are still small/most sensitive.

Speaking of shooting, we have had a REALLY late spring here in WNY. My 'spectabilis' yellow groove just started poking shoots out of the ground and none of my other phyllostachys species (atrovaginata, nigra henon, nuda, and rubromarginata) show any signs of shooting yet. All the other trees and plants are equally behind. We're just starting to get small leaves expanding out of buds here, and some trees aren't even that far along! The evening lows are still below 40 degrees some nights; I feel bad for the farmers as their growing season is starting to get impinged on.

Oh, and don't treat your grove, even with a broadleaf herbicide, during shooting as it very likely will harm 'new' growth, but NOT the overall plant.

Good Luck.

Kt