Me and My Machete (Reprise)

Almost 2 and a half years ago, I tackled the invasive bamboo stand on the property with a machete and after a full day of work, realized that a machete was not going to solve the bamboo issue:  Me and My Machete (Original).  In the interim, we've tackled many more important tasks, all structure related, and knew in the back of our minds that the bamboo, landscaping and, frankly, the entire outside yard and dock would be much later phases of the project.  However, we recently had our excavator (and also supplier of the much-used port-o-potty) out to replace the home's sewer line from the house to the street and, in the process, discovered that he was willing to dig out the bamboo at a relatively good price.  Using MACHINERY, not machetes.  Meaning, it would be done not only in this century, but in a mere day or two.  Wow, we'd be stupid NOT TO.  So we did.

Here's the starting point:

 The first piece of MACHINERY (the CAT) in action:

It sliced through the bamboo cleanly - much better than the machete and much more quickly!

Phase 2 - digging out the roots with the second piece of fine machinery:

Not shown, the third piece of machinery  - the dump truck that hauled all of this away:

I definitely have machine envy - anyone want a slightly used machete??

The small amount of remaining bamboo is actually on the neighbor's lot - they plan to remove it also, but in the meantime, we'll be religious about keeping it gone from our side.  Then, if they don't actually follow through soon to have theirs removed, plan B will involve a 3 foot trench, lots of concrete, and a large wall to keep it from re-invading us.  Bamboo free is a great way to be...but we realize it will be a multi year project to keep it that way.

For large scale bamboo removal, machinery definitely triumphs over machetes - hands down.