Bamboo is increasingly conquering our gardens. It not only shoots up overnight but also grows quickly in width. At the latest when it occupies the neighbor's garden unnoticed, you have to limit the bamboo - effectively and permanently! But how?
How can I successfully limit bamboo in the garden?
To effectively limit bamboo in the garden, you can use the mound or trench method, install a rhizome barrier made of special film, or plant the bamboo in a perforated mortar pot. Please note the depth required for each type of bamboo.
How far can rhizomes spread?
Most types of bamboo spread their underground roots up to 3 meters per year. They overcome almost any obstacle and damage foundations and masonry under terraces, garages, basements and houses. Typically, bamboo roots lie just below the surface. But the following bamboo species and varieties grow over 1 meter deep into the ground:
- Bashania
- Pleiblastus
- Phyllostachys
- Semiarundinaria
Root growth depends on various factors
Such as the type of bamboo or the nature of the soil: the sandier the soil, the faster the roots grow. But the plants can also undermine solid clay soil. It just takes longer.
Various methods to limit the bamboo
In general, the bamboo needs a sufficient location with at least 1.5 to 2 meters in diameter. The following options keep Bashania, Pleiblastus and Co under control with natural or artificial containment aids:
- Hill method
- Trench method
- Special foil
- Mortar bucket
- The mound method involves digging a flattened trench 30 centimeters deep and raising the earth into a mound in the middle. The rhizomes of the bamboo growing on it become visible due to the difference in height when leaving the place and must be removed regularly.
- With the trench method, a 30 centimeter deep trench is dug as wide as a spade, filled with leaves and adjusted with loose garden soil. Regularly remove all bamboo roots growing through the leaf trench
Both natural methods use the ability of rhizomes to avoid obstacles just below the surface. They are inexpensive and the work required is low. But they are not safe rhizome barriers.
- Rhizome barrier with special film made of high-quality plastic (HDPE (€169.00 at Amazon)). To do this, screw the beginning and end of the 70 cm wide foil to an aluminum rail. This creates a closed ring. This is buried vertically so that five centimeters are still visible above the ground to prevent the rhizomes from escaping. Conclusion: Expensive and labor-intensive to set up. A secure rhizome barrier for this.
- Perforate the 90 liter mortar bucket at the bottom and in the lower side area with a drill for water drainage. Then sink the bucket into the ground with a 5 centimeter overhang and plant bamboo in the mortar bucket.
Conclusion. Inexpensive and low workload with a relatively secure rhizome barrier.
Tips & Tricks
There is a hardy bamboo family that does not form runners: umbrella bamboo (Fargesia) – Fargesia murielae and Fargesia nitida.
