Bamboo Removal & Eradication
Running bamboo dug out and hauled off, or mowed and treated until it stops coming back. Either way, one contractor does all of it.
Dig it out, or mow and treat
Ives Contracting removes and eradicates running bamboo on commercial, government and utility sites across Virginia and North Carolina. Bamboo spreads underground, comes up through fences and pavement, and crowds rights-of-way, drainage and structures. There are two ways to get rid of it: dig it out, or mow it and treat the regrowth. We do both, and which one fits depends on the site, your schedule and how you want the work priced.
We do both with our own people and equipment: crews and machines to mow and dig, dump trucks to haul the debris, and licensed applicators on our own payroll for the follow-up treatments. Every application is recorded and kept on file for three years, as state regulations require.
Bamboo removal fits alongside our invasive species control, right-of-way maintenance and herbicide application, so one contractor can handle the whole site.
Two ways to remove bamboo
Dig it out
We excavate the stand and its root mass with equipment, load it into our own dump trucks and haul it off site. This is the right choice when the bamboo has to be gone now, or the ground is going to be built on.
Mow and treat
We mow the stand down, then our licensed applicators treat the regrowth with herbicide over the following seasons until it stops coming back. This costs less up front and works where digging is not practical.
Which one fits
It depends on the site, your schedule and how you want the work priced. We walk the site and price whichever approach you ask for, or both, so you can compare.
Where we remove it
Utility sites and easements
Bamboo crowding access roads, fence lines and easements on utility property.
Rights-of-way and roadsides
Stands that block sight lines, shoulders, ditches and drainage structures.
Stormwater facilities
Bamboo on pond banks, embankments and outfalls, handled with the rest of your BMP maintenance.
Commercial and industrial property
Stands along parking lots, building lines and property boundaries, removed before they damage pavement or cross the line.
Government and military property
Removal and multi-season control for public agencies and installations. See government vegetation management.
Construction sites
Bamboo cleared and hauled ahead of site work, with the root mass removed so it does not come up through the finished job.
One-page PDF with our services, certifications, NAICS codes, UEI and CAGE, and contact information.
Common questions
Who do you remove bamboo for?
Our bamboo removal service is set up for commercial, government and utility sites: rights-of-way, easements, stormwater facilities, industrial and commercial property, and public land across Virginia and North Carolina.
Can bamboo be killed by cutting it down?
No. Running bamboo stores its energy in a network of underground rhizomes. Cutting or mowing the canes removes the top growth, but the stand sends up new shoots from the roots. That is why mowing is followed by herbicide on the regrowth, or the stand is dug out instead.
Is bamboo removal mechanical or chemical?
It depends on the approach. Digging the stand out is mechanical. The other approach is to mow the stand and then treat the regrowth with herbicide. We offer both, and which one we use depends on what the customer asks for and how the work is priced.
How long does it take to get rid of bamboo?
Digging the stand out removes it in one job. A mow-and-treat program usually takes two to three seasons of follow-up treatments.
What happens to the cut bamboo and roots?
When we dig a stand out, the cane and root mass are loaded into our own dump trucks and hauled off site for disposal.
Is running bamboo regulated in Virginia?
Virginia law allows localities to adopt ordinances that require property owners to keep running bamboo from spreading onto neighboring property or public rights-of-way. Rules vary by city and county, so check with your locality.
Are your applicators licensed?
Yes. Herbicide work is done by licensed applicators who are Ives employees, not subcontractors. Every application is recorded and kept on file for three years, as state regulations require.
Where do you remove bamboo?
Statewide across Virginia and in North Carolina. We are based in Virginia Beach and work throughout Hampton Roads, Richmond and the rest of the state.
Bamboo on your site?
Send the location and a few photos. We will walk it and price it either way.