Installing rhizome barrier, and other methods of bamboo control.
Part I: Fully Enclosed Barrier

A poorly maintained Phyllostachys nigra and Pseudosasa japonica  have escaped a make-shift fiberglass barrier and snuck under an old fence that has just been removed to make way for rhizome barrier installation.
A narrow trench about 28 inches deep is being dug around the perimeter of the intended growing area. Any rhizomes encountered are carefully cut and removed. Tarps have been spread around the designated trench line to catch the soil and help contain the mess. This is also helpful for back filling the trench after the barrier is installed.
	The barrier is installed and stainless steel clamp secured where  the ends come together.  An electric drill is useful for making holes in the barrier to fasten the nuts and bolts.  Because this barrier is only 30 feet in circumference, we have double lined the material for added protection.
	The soil needs to be thoroughly compacted by stomping around the trench several times during the back filling process.
All photos on this page © Noah Bell, 2006 Safely enclosed, no more worries. Barrier price and written instructions HOME	The top two to four inches of the barrier must remain visible so as to detect rhizomes trying to escape over the top. A 3 to 5 inch layer of mulch will draw the rhizomes up near the surface which makes root pruning an easy task.  Once per year, just beneath the surface of the mulch along the inside edge of the barrier, one should carefully cut and remove any rhizomes which have grown along it.  Although you can get away with almost no maintenance for five or more years, root pruning is very important for long term healthy bamboo and functional barrier.

Part II:  Installing an Open Sided Barrier

A site about 12 feet in length has been selected to create a bamboo privacy screen.

The barrier trench is dug on three sides.

A double lined barrier is installed on three sides leaving one side open for root pruning.  This is important for maintaining a healthy bamboo screen in a small growing area.

The lip of the barrier is higher than normal because the bamboo planting area is raised up on a 6-8 inch berm; this is useful for root pruning as the rhizomes usually spread within the upper four inches of  the top soil.  The outer edge of the berm should be checked by cutting into the soil with a sharp spade two to three times per year in the summer through fall during the bamboo's active spreading phase. Remove any rhizome attempting to spread out of the berm.

Photos © Noah Bell, 2006 5 Gallon Phyllostachys aureosulcata 'Spectabilis' have been intermixed with P. aureosulcata 'Harbin Inversa' to create a colorful screen.  In three years they will achieve 20+ feet in height with enough density to block view of the neighbors.   Part III   Pruning Trench   A shallow pruning trench will enable one to cut off rhizomes as they attempt to cross. The trench should be thoroughly checked twice per year, in mid summer and again in the fall.

     
Matt aka "Nightcrawler" showing gritty determination necessary for this kind of work.