Post #305122 by Maori_man on Wed, May 9, 2007 9:58 AM

Also - when installing barrier - make sure you get the thicker 60 mil. (not the 40 or thinner used for spreading perrenials). The thinner stuff will eventually break when the Bamboo reaches it's capacity in the space you have it contained in and then you have a completely different problem to deal with. I have seen it first hand - it isn't pretty! Also - when buying bamboo - think two or three years down the road - whats it going to look like? It looks good now - right height, areas full - two years from now your gonna be screwed when it starts to spread. Also - common Bamboo barrier is 30" deep - 28 inches in the ground and 2" above. Use a stainless steel clamp set to secure the two ends and use a "butt joint" fold the ends in and clamp there. Do not overlap the two - if you just overlap them the Bamboo will get in between the two ends and push it's way out of the barrier and run like crazy.

If your gonna do the hunt and pack method of containment - do as Ben said - get every little piece of Rhizone out or it will continue to grow. Just cutting it won't do. Find the end of the Rhizone - trace it back to the main plant and cut it there. Pull it out and wahlah! It's real fun on larger size bamboo like Dulcis or Vivax to trace the runners.

Good size clumping bamboo with decent size canes are Chesquea (SP) Gigantea - 25' with up to 2" canes and a new Chinese variety Bolinda Boriana - 20 to 30' with 2" canes.

Can't tell I work in a Bamboo nursery huh?

[ Edited by: Maori_man 2007-05-09 09:59 ]