I would not use that for anything since it will probably also kill your plants. Borax is often suggested as one means of control for creeping charlie. The link below says there is seldom a need for chemical control of these wee buggers. One of the things organic gardeners are supposed to do isbe confrotable with nature. That does not mean allowing plants to be devoured but does mean understanding the insects around us and not taking unnecessary action to contol those that do not need control. Here is a link that might be useful: Tortoise Beetles

Hello CJ- I ordered a tortoise shell bamboo from Bamboobuddy in Ebay, it came with two bared culms no foliage at all, but the two culms are both over 1/2" in diameter, and starting to form the nodes like the bamboos from your picture... and you can order a 5G size from him for $39 free shipping, I also bought a 2G Ph Aurea from Jim at Bambooplantation.com for $14.99, and the Aurea came with four 1/4" size culms but about 8 feet tall with HUGE rootball ... and one of the culm which was topped and the shape just like the way in your picture... Tortoise shell bamboo is the cheapest Phyllostachys in all bamboo nurseries, because they spread very fast and easy to get, I should able to have some new extra Ph Aurea come next spring, and if you want I can trade you for your baby budda bamboo :) Hope this helps Roger

I rather doubt they would damage a concrete slab foundation but some of the older cracker houses are raised up on posts/pilars and a large enough burrow might be able to destabilize one of those, I think. In my situation I'm more worried about the flowerbed's rock edging collapsing down into the burrow and trapping the tortoise. I wish the tortoise had dug the burrow away from the house and flowerbeds. I would have then been happy to leave it alone, even if it was in the middle of the lawn! I got a call back from the species conservation man and he e-mailed me the 3 page permit application for relocating the gopher tortoise along with the 8 page permit infomation packet and the 3 page quiz that I have to fill out along with the application. I then have to mail the application and quiz back to him along with the $25 fee and a copy of my driver's license. Then I have to wait to see whether or not the permit will be approved. Looking over the form I'm not even sure that they will think I have enough property to relocate the tortoise within my own yard or if they will want it moved somewhere else. This is turning into a lot more fuss then I thought it would! Kara

I've had them lay eggs in my compost pile in the past. Eastern Box Turtles are native to Long Island, but probably have become quite scarce there in the past 30 years. Unfortunately, their traveling house doesn't protect them from cars. In many urbanized areas they are now quite scarce, bound for exterpation.