How do you prevent bamboo from becomming evasive?

[Dave]

There are two main ways to prevent the spread of running bamboo into adjacent areas. The first involves surrounding it with a physical barrier, usually a special, high density, plastic roll material made for this purpose; this is placed in a 60-90 cm (2-3 feet) deep ditch around the planting, and angled out at the top to direct the rhizomes to the surface.

The second method is rhizome pruning, which involves taking a sharp spade and cutting down into the ground 30 cm (1 foot) all along the perimeter that is to be maintained. The root system is generally very close to the surface, so, if rhizome pruning is done twice a year, it will sever most, if not all, of the new growth. Since the new roots are dependent on older parts of the root system for nourishment, anything beyond the shovel cut will die in the ground and be unable to reestablish itself.

[shalene]

The rhizome pruning method is very interesting. Thanks for the info.

[janet_a]

short answer: napalm

around here, they plant the stuff in subterranean concrete bathtubs, for want of a better description.

clumping bamboo is more easily controlled, the running variety is invasive and will overrun any and all native species given half a chance. my suggestion: don't plant it! removing or erradicating an infestationit can cost thousands.

[bamboogirl]

Originally Posted by duhhdog

clumping bamboo is more easily controlled, the running variety is invasive and will overrun any and all native species given half a chance. my suggestion: don't plant it! removing or erradicating an infestationit can cost thousands.

its only invasive if you live on a small plot of land.one does not plant runners on property line in a city..

chele

[bamboogirl]

Originally Posted by shalene

The rhizome pruning method is very interesting. Thanks for the info.

dave said it right,,but left out a pieace..in order to best rhizome prun you need to have a trench around the running bamboo so you can see any of the rhizomes as they try to exspand..a bamboo (runner)can send a new rhizome culm as far away as it is tall..in other words if your bamboo is 40 or 50' tall it can send a new plant(culm)that far away...most of the time it does not.

ive found over 60 so called will bamboo grooves and most all of them are not that big or invasive..if you lived in a city you would call it invassive.ive seen grooves that are less than 2 acres that took over 30 years to get that big..most are less than 50'x80'....and then they are near a water source..take away the water and its not that invasive..

chele

[Ellen]

Evasive? Is that when the bamboo escapes from your yard and goes to the neighbors?