Arundo Donax - anybody else have experience with it

[tularetom]

Around here they refer to it as "bamboo" but it is really a giant reed or grass. It grows in profusion along the banks of creeks or canals or in wet areas. It's very difficult to eradicate.

We had it growing along 400' of the bank of a seasonal creek that runs through our property. I've mowed it down several times to no avail it always comes back. About three years ago the flood control people came through and burned it out. In the process they killed about a dozen oaks that are protected in most California counties. They also trashed the creek bank and we had about three acres flooded for the first time ever last year. Well now it's back. It provides some excellent dove habitat but other than that it's worthless.

Any DU'ers ever have to deal with this stuff. I'd be receptive to any advice on how to get rid of it permanently.

[Richard D]

1. It's really difficult to get rid of.

have to dig it out by all the roots. Even a small tuber will start it up again.
Strong herbacides might, but it'll also kill all the fish and poison the water.

[ConcernedCanuk]

2. MARKET IT - some places even PLANT the stuff - think biomass/fuel

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Arundo produces an average of 25 tons of high quality fiber per acre twice annually. One of Its most significant uses will be to produce chips for the manufacture of high-grade biofuel pellets or dried chips. Highly significant also is the importance of a crop with a greater than 20 to 25 year growing cycle without annual replanting, and the ability to exclude many costly fertilizers and weed killers which are also an environmental concern, that will return agriculture to a more profitable basis than many crops.

Arundo is an ideal biofuel (8,000 BTU’s/lb) that produces methanol from gas diffusion as a byproduct in manufacturing cellulose. The option to gasify this product is to produce independently a valuable energy product.It is possible to utilize new high efficiency gasification systems to convert Arundo into a multitude of different energy sources, such as syngas, standard steam turbine electrical generation, ethanol and bio-diesel.

More at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arundo_donax

Hey, it's FREE - no fertilizer, no planting - harvest and market it or use it yourself

I suggest reading that whole link above

Think dandelions - some of us curse and weed and cut them to no avail,

others make WINE.

I have a wee hanging thing in my truck my mother gave me decades ago

goes sumthing like this



Think about it . . .

[kestrel91316]

7. It's illegal to plant it in CA. It's a highly invasive nonnative that

does immeasurable damage to riparian ecosystems. Thanks, but NO THANKS.

[MineralMan]

3. Woodwind Reeds

are made from Arundo Donax. Sadly, there's no shortage of the raw material, and most reeds are made from cane grown in France.

There was a guy a few years ago experimenting with domestic stock for oboe, english horn, and bassoon reeds, but I forget his name. I quit playing oboe many years ago.

Bottom line is that domestic stuff doesn't have a marketplace, and the drying and curing process is pretty involved.

Enough Roundup will eradicate it in time, and with multiple applications, but that's not a good option, either.

[plantwomyn]

4. It's worth a lot really.

A 1 gallon plant sells for $15. You can also use it as firewood or bio fuel. It is considered an invasive plant in many states and will cost you s lot of $ to KILL it. About $250 for 2.5 gal.for Rodeo.
Only one herbicide is currently labeled for wetlands use by the EPA; Rodeo®.
Rodeo Herbicide / Shore-Klear Examples:
Sample 100ft x100ft Lakeshore Lot (10,000 sq ft) *
Amount of Rodeo / Shore-Klear required: One Quart.
Actual amount used +/- due to plant densities.
Sample Mixing Rate for Cattail control (3/4% Solution). *
Amount of Rodeo/Shore-Klear required: Less than 1 Ounce(.96) per Gallon of water plus a non-ionic surfactant.

http://teamarundo.org/ecology_impacts/arundo_ecology.html

Plan what you're going to plant in it's place. Arondo Donax is acting as you erosion control right now. If you use the water for irrigation use something like Crown Vetch. If not use a local willow variety with crown vetch as a ground cover. Cattails are good too, though invasive also, at least you can eat them.

[Grinchie]

5. It spreads by rhizome, just like Bamboo

Thats why it can survive Burns, Mowing, etc.

You can dig up the rhizomes and that will take care of it. It is suprisingly hard to get established, but once it does, it's a tough survivor. It loves wet sandy areas.

You can also split it and make baskets like they do in mexico. Mats too. It grows fast, so it's an annually replenishing resource, if you have a use for it, such as the need for temporary shade and such.

Use it for the fiber, not so much for the wood. I wouldn't bother trying to remove it, just harvest as much as you need and it will soon disappear.

[XemaSab]

6. Break the shoots near the ground but leave them connected

Apply herbicide.

Use a backhoe to dig the roots out.

Repeat as necessary.

I'd also call the county extension office and see what they suggest.

It really sucks that you have to deal with that. x(