Coldlime, I wonder if your bamboo is actually Japanese knotweed (fallopia japonica/polygonum cuspidata)? When it gets tall it has large hollow canes. If so, be forewarned it is one of the most invasive species there is. I have been battling it for 20 years in my yard. It can lay dormant for 20 years and come up through sidewalks and roads, or so I've been told. Based on my experience, I believe it. I dug up and sifted the soil along my alley every year for 20 years and my used every vegetation killer known to man, and I still have to pull it out constantly. I had buckthorn in the same area, and that's nothing compared to this monster. And it's a relative of fleeceflower, which I will never ever ever ever plant anywhere, just in case.
Notwithstanding my previous post, that's obviously what I would permanently eradicate!

We are doing pretty well controlling Japanese Knotweed by depriving it of photosynthesis. I have a small area of the yard that became overrun when the neighbor's patch got tarred over. The stuff made its way to my yard.

My son and I slice it off at ground level as if it were a pesky maple seedling. The roots are more like trees, so I treat the plant like a tree. Keep mowing it down and don't let it go to seed. It will get smaller and smaller, weaker and weaker.

I had success spraying Ortho Brush-Be-Gone on some Knotweed near the fence. Nothing came back there. But i decided not to poison my yard, so I haven't done any more.

The stuff is edible when it is young. It is related to buckwheat and rhubarb. The small stalks in early spring make a great "rhubarb" pie or can be cut up in salads.

The roots are used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for baldness, graying and a number of other imbalances.

Can I count the neighborhood kids? I kid stole an iris and others like to tramp through. Shesh! The stolen iris was later found by his mom and he was made to do weeding in my yard to pay for it but still...

Celia, I second including the kids. I am trying to plant enough stuff to completely block my yard from the alley. So far I have had several solar lights stolen (pulled right out of the ground), a hanging basket stolen, several plants trampled, and a small compost heap started on fire!
Never caught the culprits. I actually wire or stake everything now and of course do not keep any compost in that area any longer.

Wow! Haven't had that big of a problem. Bikes in the driveway, running through the sprinklers, tramping through beds when there's no reason...

I can't afford to replace stuff. Thank goodness the Iris was one I had lots of.

I think it's bad where I am because the adolescent age kids go up the alley in the evening to get to the elementary school playground across the street; they like to party there and are probably in the right frame of mind to get into mischief along the way. Kids will be kids.

Would it be evil of me to plant random cacti amongst the other plants?

go for it

Zencat said:Would it be evil of me to plant random cacti amongst the other plants?

NO! Not evil at all!!! I'd definitely go for it!!! I'd also love to see the look on their faces!!!

Ahem....barberry works well also....

Roses, quince, pyracantha...

Water gardens that aren't obviously water gardens ...

Motion-sensor water sprayers ...

Go straight to the poison ivy?

I'd say:
Slugs
Japanese knotweed
Creeping convolvulus

I'd like to see gone forever
mosquitos
Mosquitos
MOSQUITOS

Furry friends list
fleas
ticks

Now for those walnut trees. There is a grove of black walnut trees in back of my house. Some surprisingly close to homes. Not a good idea as a mature walnut tree is as large as a giant oak. The fruit is as large as soft balls and hard as huge hail. Falling from heights of 40-50 feet will do substantial damage to a home. I say a silent prayer every fall day when I'm out gardening.

As for plants I've had no problem growing anything so far. Roses, clematis, hosta, ferns, veggies and all kinds of perennials do fine.

Bless the mother who made her son come and weed the garden after taking the iris. I know it's too late for the flower, but not to late to instill a sense of right and wrong in a child.

Wow! I wasn't sure there were any mothers around like that anymore. Sounds like something my mom would have made us do had we pulled a stunt like that.

I hear you on the skeeters!

I agree about the mosquitos, for sure. And I don't want to eradicate my black walnut trees, but I admit the walnuts will occasionally bonk you on the head.

Try living with coconut trees overhead. Those things could kill you!

Yes I can imagine they would.
Turtle, amen to Japanese knotweed. I have battled that horrible stuff for 25 years.

Ann, I thought walnuts were dangerous. No thanks on coconuts.