How to Plant Bamboo so it Doesn't Take Over Your Garden!

Not all bamboo is invasive but a good percentage is, so it's important to control its' spread before it gets out of hand. Watch as I install 'Bamboo Root Control Barrier' so I can plant my golden bamboo knowing it won't take over the garden.
🧰 The tools and equipment I use: www.amazon.co....
Proper DIY Patreon Page: / properdiy
Amazon links to the tools used in this video...
UK Links:
► Roughneck Post Hole Digger: amzn.to/3ItwoqG
► Roughneck Drainage Shovel: amzn.to/438QQG1
► Bamboo Root Control Barrier: amzn.to/42WzGv8
US Links:
► Fiberglass Post Hole Digger: amzn.to/41VMksX
► Fiberglass Long Handle Shovel: amzn.to/45uCph0
► Bamboo Root Control Barrier: amzn.to/3MeTmDe
The Amazon links above are affiliate links. It doesn't cost you anything to click on them but I do earn a small commission if you do. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

[@lllANIMALlll]

I planted Fargesia Robusta Campbell 3 years ago and have had no problems with it spreading as it is a clumping bamboo. I did my research before I bought this as I also didn’t want it spreading everywhere. Thanks for the video. 👍

[@illofation7879]

Thank you for sharing. I'm currently preparing for my new garden and considering bamboo. So this is very useful information. What is your experience with the growth, dealing with our winters, and how tall it can get? And the leaves, do they drop at all?

[@lllANIMALlll]

@@illofation7879 It hasn’t spread at all. But bushed out nicely. I bought them in July 2020 at about 3 feet tall. They are now about 9 feet tall now. They stay green all year round and I’ve had no problems in the winter. I am in the South East of England. Here is the plants I bought www.bigplantnursery.co.uk/shop/plants/bamboo/fargeisa/fargesia-robusta-campbell/ Hope that helps.

[@JB-lr1tf]

Would it be OK to plant clumping bamboo in a raised sleeper bed? Iv just brought 2 fergesia robusta

[@lllANIMALlll]

@@JB-lr1tf I don't see why not. 👍

[@lainiwaku]

people who complain about spreading bamboo, definitely didn't even tried to search befor buying, and brought the first variety they found ! planting a fargesia and you don't even need to put barrier

[@Tminus89]

Advice from a friend who is a bamboo grower with 200+ species... Never put in a root barrier without clamping both ends together!! When the rhizome has filled out the space, the lack or pressure keeping the material together gives the rhizome enough room to be able to push the barrier outward until a hole is made through which it can send runners... If you have experienced otherwise with a plant that is in the ground more than 5-6 years I would love to know, but it didn't sound like a solid longterm solution to my mate

[@blowitoutyourcunt7675]

Dad used giant pieces of pvc nested into itself, so it was very long and doubled walled. He didn’t want to plant bamboo at work but he researched and did it well enough so it’s contained and removable later if necessary.

[@toy838]

Clumping varieties worth mentioning I have them minimal spread .

[@TomBartram-b1c]

Ive got a 12" wide, 30 foot long bamboo hedge along my fence and is a good privacy screen without being a light thief. Beautiful and maintenance free. The bonus is that the plastic screening like youre using stopped the problem of extremely unwelcome guests tunnelling in from the field on the other side, maybe the rootmass itself would have sufficed. (Then I saw gnaw marks in the fence so ran chicken wire along the bottom of the fence. That stopped the little barstools. Sorry if this has put you off your lunch.) When digging, put the soil straight into rubble sacks for easy transportation. I adverised "free top soil" online and someone came for it within an hour. My mistake as it turned out cuz you'll always find a use for it elsewhere.

[@daniel__clark]

Thanks for the video. You're very lucky to have top soil going so deep. Here in Essex 200mm down and I'm hitting east London orange clay.

[@JB-lr1tf]

I think running bamboo has gave clumping bamboo a bad name due to people's lack of research before planting in the garden. Great vedio

[@MRrwmac]

Nice to see someone else doing the work digging as I did a few days ago. Damn, I was breating hard after just a few minutes and I’m only 72…..argggg. Good subject. I did the same but did’nt go deep enough. Thanks

[@keithmiller5042]

Don't worry about being 72 - it's only temporary...

[@MRrwmac]

@@keithmiller5042 That’s what the Doc told me also. Have a great Memorial Day!

[@Quaker521]

Great job Stuart, I'm really looking forward to how you jungle garden develops. I usually find 'lost' items when I'm looking for something else!😂

[@jwatkins123]

Looks like a lovely spot to build a swinging garden seat, potential future project!

[@allongshanks940]

A grubbing mattock is an excellent tool for cutting accurate channels. Also as you get into well-compacted soils a fencing bar is great for breaking up the soil before you dig it out

[@martinaaron609]

Came to make the same comment - a mattock will cut that trench in a lot less time and with a lot less effort.

[@AmxCsifier]

The video is well paced and informative. I usually don't stay for the whole 15 minutes lolz

[@johnbehneman1546]

I LOVE YOUR CHANNEL. PLEASE CONTINUE TO SHARE YOUR TRUTH.

[@andrewhamilton-gill]

Smashing video with super advice about basically pacing yourself, especially if your not as young as you think you are.

[@GardenBoy4U]

Job well done. You need to leave a bit of the barrier above ground anyways because the rhizomes can climb over the top. The barriers work great. I contained a running bamboo with this method just fine.

[@across8339]

Thanks Stuart, I might try this idea for a couple of figs that are not thriving in pots. Agree with you about the Roughneck post holder, its worth every penny.

[@johnbehneman1546]

THANK YOU SO MUCH. EVERYTHING CAME OUT SO BEAUTIFUL!!!

[@freeshrugs63]

How likable are you? Thanks for the entertaining and informative video.

[@FlashPan73]

For my screening bamboo, I've just planted Fargesia Robusta Formidable - Fountain Bamboo Formidable

[@mikaeljonsfjord]

Thanks so much for the tuos on the tools. I hust dudg a 120 cm deep hole 40 cm ub diameter for a flagpole. Woulr have been impossible without these digging tools.

[@SoftwareInTheWoods]

I use the roughneck post holer for loads of planting. We did about 2000 spring bulbs with it last year - me holing and the wife following along.

[@DockyardTiger]

"me holing the wife" 😮 Err more tea vicar 😅

[@nigelmiddleton2727]

That post digging tool is the 30 quid I have ever spent. I have just completed quite a large decking project that required 75 post holes. I dread to think how difficult it would have been without that tool. Highly recommended 👌 👍 👏

[@David-bl1bt]

I use a post hole boring tool, basically a pole with a course, wide helical thread and a "T" handle. I first drill a hole in the ground with a long masonry drill, then insert the point protruding from the helix thread, slight pressure then screw away! Once the length of the thread is full with soil, pull it out, knock the soil off, then continue. In decent ground (not heavily stoned) it takes just a couple of minutes per hole. Far easier then using a mattock or trenching spade with considerably less strain on your back.

[@iamrobfromcardiff5515]

I’ve just done this exact same job today, albeit on a retrospective basis to curtail any more runners popping up where I don’t want them.

[@fenners1290]

Given me some inspiration. We have the same issue with our bamboo!

[@pattyseel1892]

Thanks for a very informative video...I want bamboo in my yard, too...am building some Planter boxes...as I am fearful of its aggressive nature! But I really wanted to say I greatly appreciate your humor! Made me laugh out loud...and that's priceless!

[@ROOSTEE7100]

Wonderful video with great information. Did you know that the dirt you have extra out of the hole is due to the moon phases. You can also dig that same hole different phase then come back the next day and will not have enough dirt to fill the hole. Try an experiment. I had to do it myself before I would believe it made that much difference

[@great-garden-watch]

Hmmm now I wonder if you can sink a bottomless planter pot into the ground and put the bamboo in that

[@RiBenjafield]

Wow! Great job Stuart, I think the hard work will pay off. Bamboo is a beautiful plant. We inherited one at our previous house which had no barrier and completely took over despite my best efforts to control it. I like the way you dug the trench with the fencing tools - using an ordinary spade doesn’t work for me as, at 8 stone 4, I stand on a spade and nothing happens! 😂

[@kevinfisher7142]

Always good to watch Stewart well done looks great, cant wait for the next one.

[@Mike-Yorkshire]

That bamboo looks like mine, the clumping type no runners. Mine has been in 8 years and hasn’t spread more than half a metre. I had the runner type in a previous property and it found it’s way all under the lawn.

[@3rdtonefromthesun]

Was gonna say, I can barely get mine to grow, I must have the clumping type!

[@andyc972]

Nice one Stuart, it looks better already ! The other thing that starts at 50 is you start muttering to yourself about what is winding you up ! 😉

[@David-bl1bt]

.....whilst stopping work every 15 minutes to run to the loo😅

[@mathewadams2929]

I never would have thought to use a post hole digger to make a narrow trench like that.

[@NikNakGB]

Weird, I did this job today & now I see your video. Pretty sure it was easier for me to dig the whole area out with a fork than it looked for you with that post hole digger. Worth pointing out there are two types of bamboo, clumpers & runners, still it's worth having this barrier with either so you can be sure it stays where you want it.

[@McPruden]

Electric post digger does wonders quickly!

[@Kath11789]

Super helpful video, thanks!! And especially loved the sotto voce commentary 🤣🤣🤣 I’m convinced my hand tools can teleport themselves…

[@Shaun30-3]

Looking good Stuart, and the garden! It's that time of year mid spring, I love it.I am building a second rockery with sand stone.I do like bamboo, like you say you got to manage it or it can get out control. I'm looking forward to see how you get on with it.And like you said with putting things down, where are they now! that's me I'm 50 something as well.Great video,take care see you on the next one.

[@markmcph]

Hi Stewart. Just letting you know that I saw a KZbin video advert today that played before a video I was watching that advertised a plug in device claiming to save electricity. It contained footage from one of your proper DIY videos of you and was suggesting that you were an English electrician and inventor of this device. It was for a company called volt max. I wasn’t able to replay it so didn’t get more detail. It looked very suspect and might be worth looking out for!

[@BrokenSofa]

It does need securing. Those rhizomes will start circling the perimeter of the plastic, and as soon as the sharp apex finds that seam it will grow in between the plastic sheets and out into the yard.

[@CB-DW]

I love the look of bamboo but having just removed 16 tonnes of soil in order to remove it from our lawn, you could say I’m no longer a fan. That’s really down to the previous owner of the house not having planted it with a bamboo barrier. They’ve cost me around £3k to get it sorted 😢😅

[@blowitoutyourcunt7675]

Arborcide

[@josephlai9759]

That is really a smart way to dig a trench. Thank you.

[@1teem]

Can you do a follow up video on your jungle garden?

[@1x3dil]

Hi Stuart at first I was totally bamboozled 😂 then everything became clear Kind regards as always. 😀👍👍👍

[@AngelaM-s4o]

😂😂😂

[@JIMMYH2011]

Buy a clumping variety. Stick it in a planter. Put planter on raised concrete base.

[@LouiseKing-w9b]

Am going to plant bamboo in 42 litre plastic buckets and put them in raised flower beds in hope that it controls the evasive nature & provides a decent screen.

[@garulusglandarius6126]

Excellent as always Stuart 👍😁

[@kb3239]

In my climate, only running bamboo grows (cold hardy) so thank you

[@creepingbrain]

That planting space will be full of bamboo within two years. You'll then have to dig it all out and divide and start again. People always get caught out by how fast bamboos grow. The growth compounds, the root mass doubles every year, the number of culms at least double every year. Those plastic barriers don't last forever, they degrade, and because it's undergound you can't see if rhizomes have broken through. By the time you do notice, it's too late. Don't underestimate the strength of bamboo roots, they are more than capable of breaking these plastic barriers. As the comment below says...if you must have running bamboos then allow at least one foot of space between the final size that you want the bamboo to grow to and the barrier. Then, dig out that one foot space every year and get out any rhizomes, so in effect you're using the barrier as a failsafe rather than as first defense. Even then, you're going to have to be lifting and dividing your bamboos every 2 or 3 years to keep them healthy. Much better to stick to clumping bamboos, and give them room to grow. Fargesias typically grow 2m to 4m tall, and form a clump 1m to 2m wide. Varieties like Fargesia Robusta Campbell, Fargesia Winter Joy, and Fargesia Rufa are ideal for our climate, they're much nicer looking bamboos than running bamboos, and you don't have all this hard work of trying to contain them.

[@ranat5526]

The bamboo shoots spread like wildfire, even an off cut piece ends up in the lawn and starts to spawn!

[@43bikeguy]

I am with you on the hand trowels they just dissappear, we buy new ones each year and they seem to evaporate into the garden.

[@David-bl1bt]

I'm exactly the same with seafarers 😮

[@JeanPhilippeArlet]

Do you need this control system if growing clumping bamboo?

[@valborchardt3596]

Thanks Stuart.

[@paulpalmer9970]

Brilliant video and great advice but when you going to fix your fence lol can’t let the bamboo hide it 😅

[@David-fj5lz]

Will the plastic split under the pressure exerted by the expanding root system?

[@mungoh42]

With all that soil excavated to a deep level, mightn't it be an idea to put some compost or chicken manure at that depth before returning the soil into the void? Also, I'd be concnerned if your missus went missing and you had the polis interested in that coffin-shaped area! :-)

[@Matteo-rs7nk]

Hi , nice video well done 👍. Just want to ask you , if I plant the bamboo away from my neighbours fence something around 600mm/700mm away from the fence , do I still need use plastic barrier ?? Thanks

[@kellyshuffle785]

I've heard Panda's work well

[@lonestarintn9137]

Nice thanks

[@rhiantaylor3446]

Mini digger might be overkill - how about a motorised auger ?

[@waffle_chair9269]

Greta ideas. Would love to see an update.

[@slowmarchingband1]

Speaking as a self employed gardener, I'd have planted pretty much any hedging rather than bamboo. It's a nightmare, and that plastic won't stop it forever.

[@ruaraidhmcdonald-walker9524]

Nice new hedge is very satisfying too. Jethro Tull reference?

[@stuartandrews4344]

Spot on, bamboo is like japanese knotweed, very rampant.

[@Chris-dy5fy]

Probably depends on where you live and what type you get. If it's clumping it's not spreading far, if your soil is consistently dry and poor, you can control it more. Plus, if it does get out of hand, dig it up and use it to build stuff.

[@stuartandrews4344]

Bamboo,is like Japanese Knotweed a plant from hell, once you have it, you got for life, so difficult to control/remove..

[@simonfredriklund]

​@@stuartandrews4344wait til it has grown as much as it can before leafing, then cut it all down, reapeat for a couple of years and it dies, it spends all its energy growing but doesnt get to regain it with leafs.

[@BeGood2DoGood]

Thats quite a workout. Wont the roots go deep and then send out shoots sideways below the black liner?

[@PixelatedPenfold]

Without the post digging tools that you used, digging a trench is a hard and fiddly job. Despite the size, digging out most of the hole may be quicker (possibly easier) if you only have a regular type spade.

[@Mountain_Valley_Sky]

I enjoyed. Thanks 😊

[@MissTJM1]

Great video, Thank you 😊

[@PaulBednall]

Have you seen an advert for an electricity saving device called "voltex" in which you appear as it's inventor?

[@haroldbetterson1877]

How’s it doing now?

[@awantamta]

great job

[@kiwifruitpoo]

I’m a big fan of those roughneck tools for posts and trenches but don’t understand why you didn’t dig a big hole with a pick and shovel as it would have been quicker.

[@RAHIWAadeyNayGdiniyu]

Is this necessary to do for clamping bamboo robusta?

[@quinkydinkend]

Great video

[@simonmiddleton4977]

A lot of work but looks great! 👍😃

[@keithgoody7438]

i need to run a 30ft run!

[@dellcornish]

Love my bamboo, especially black bamboo. Any thoughts on motorised barrows/skipfillers? - i'm just getting to an age where my joints are telling me it would be a sound investment!!! ps. walking around looking for my tape measure with it in my hand.

[@TheMatthew93mt]

Hi I’m thinking of buying the Vaunt wheel barrow you have used in this video. Would you recommend the product having used it to complete your various projects?

[@richardportelli1983]

I am surprised you didn't stitch the barrier together correctly to avoid penetration through the joint,

[@Eli-qr9hc]

What was the flat item you used pounding the soil to level out?

[@jcdenton23]

It's called a tamper or a trenching tamper.

[@thedownunderverse]

Plant a “gracillis”. Non invasive, no runners, beautiful thick screen 3-4 meters tall (unless trimmed shorter).

[@eileengeldard323]

I'm afraid that plastic barrier will not stop bamboo. It will spread and if you have neighbours nearby they will be cursing you. The house I bought had bamboo in the garden and it grew up through a summer house floor and through my neighbour's garage floor. Plastic is no match for it sadly. Dig it up !!!

[@bettybarneyhill4289]

Please help! I have a bamboo in an extra large pot in my yard. I have been away 2 week and it’s all gone yellow 😢.. some of the stalks are still green (under the yellow skin thing) but all the leaves are either dying or completely dead. Can I save it? My ant colony lives in there and if it’s dead the hubby will pull it all out and plant something else in there .. probably killing the Queen and ending my colony I’ve grown since lockdown 😢. Thank you

[@anwolfs9804]

Doesn't have anything to do with being over 50 Stuart, I never find my trowels either. Or pruning scissor but when I look for those, you bet I'll find the trowels! Nice start to the jungle area!

[@ruaraidhmcdonald-walker9524]

Hey Stuart, completely unrelated question: Doing some posts at the weekend and for marking out I seem to remember you had a paintspray tool for marking holes in brickwork for drilling. What was the one you were using? Was ages ago, so can't remember which video. Do you have an Amazon store or links page for all the tools you use? Cheers!

[@utherpen69]

I have just done you a solid.😊

[@rayperkins6006]

I had a bamboo problem, I found that by routinely cutting the canes back to ground level, within a year, the bamboo was exhausted and gave up the ghost. Getting the dead plant out was a bigger issue.

[@TheDajoca]

Pick axe or mattock work a treat.

[@FrogeniusW.G.]

You're the best!

[@MarkH10]

Please call 811 in the US, nationwide to ask all the local utilities to come mark their locations BEFORE you dig. It is the law, and fines for not doing so start at $1000 first offense around here.

[@kylehobart5194]

Seeing as roots only go about 700mm deep it doesnt make sense that the ground would provide nutrients that a planter/pot wouldnt provide. It is only going to use so much depth regardless (same soil)

[@MartynSmith]

Stuart, parts of one of your video are being used to sell a gadget that is supposed to improve your electric use - Not sure if you know -It was a you tube advert

[@mike1968442]

NEVER UNDERESTIMATE what mother nature is capable of doing! Just get bigger pots, and fertilize it. Keep draining holes on the sides and not the bottom.

[@voudeaux]

Bruce from Seattle Bamboo writing here. Our motto is "we solve bamboo problems' and have almost two decades of dealing with these problems. We suggest that 90% of the problems we solve are barrier problems. The bamboo is not "contained" by plastic barrier, in contract we suggest it is confined. Confined when its basic nature is to travel and spread. This particular installation has numerous problems and the DIY fellow seems to have not studied bamboo before this video was shot. First, bamboo does need resources - he mentions moisture and nutrients and this is very true, though ignoring the fact that bamboo needs space. As it grows and matures and depending on variety may seek acreage. Space is an essential resource the bamboo requires. Second the barrier is not wide enough to maintain the planting. There must be at least a foot of space between the planting and the barrier to dig the the rhizomes that will begin to travel around the around the perimeter. This maintenance is distinctly present in the American Bamboo Society website if you search for it. Third the overlap is a place the rhizomes can discover and thereby escape. The major problem is that there is little or no soil in the overlap space and the bamboo rhizomes may travel downward as they grow. A fourth issue is that the end of the planting is very near the fence and will make it difficult to maintain in the near future. "Barriered" bamboo (confined) has a "shelf life" just as it does in a container. Essentially the plastic barrier is a container without a bottom which addresses a fifth problem. As the rhizomes travel around the perimeter they eventually find a way to go under the plastic. This requires deep digging and staging of soil before the robustly growing rhizomes can be located and extracted. studio.kzbin.infozeNmOM3pTek/edit The bottom line is that any barrier is confinement of a plant that needs to spread to stay healthy. This confinement is a future issue for the property owner and more often than not the property owner that proceeds the person who planted it.

[@AngelaM-s4o]

The neighbors heavily planted bamboo. Grows up on my side of fence ie no barrier & ..IT shoots so high! up & looks like shiit,blocks all sun & daylight, & constant leaves "in my yard,

[@mwffoto7698]

Follow up review of the liner in 5 years when the pandas have moved in 😂

[@chazM6116]

buy a non-invasive clumping variety as opposed to bamboo known as "runners"

[@easypeezynotsoeasydiy2193]

That root barrier looks pretty thick but as others have mentioned it may not last. Living here in Japan next to a bamboo forest I have bamboo (Take- pronounced Takay) which grows to around 20 metres, with a diameter of around 6-8 inches. Grows incredibly quickly, up to 120 cms a day, Yes a day! I have seen the rhizomes go through any weakness even concrete cracks and recently dug up roots as thick as your wrist. They dont go very deep as Stuart said luckily. Plant bamboo if you wish but keep an eye on them as they can easily get out of hand :)

[@Richard-hm2pj]

Mmmmmmm. Think I’ll just buy bigger pots.

[@imaginitivity7853]

The previous owners of a house i lived in had screened the side of a she with bamboo. That stuff was popping up out of the ground metres away. Nightmare

[@JennyReviewMakeup]

My neighbours have bamboo and it comes to my garden. It came under the fence somehow 😂 now i have bamboo too😂

[@michaelrupf776]

Overlapping alone does npt the job. The Rhizomes will push through it after some years..

[@michaelrupf776]

*does not the job

[@nicholadstoap6944]

How can I stop weeds when panting a flower bed

[@FrogeniusW.G.]

With a topping. Mulch, bark or stones (split/grit or flint/pebble). Hope that helps. 😊

[@firsteerr]

Did you know your being used in an ad on you tube as the inventor of voltmax ?

[@michaelrupf776]

You should have connected the ends of the rootbarrier because the way u installed in some years the bamboo will escape..

[@xCupressocyparis]

Great video and advice, although I must say I don't know if that plastic will be sufficient to contain bamboo in the long term. I think I'd at least want to use a double layer. Bamboo can be seriously invasive and it can be backbreaking work to remove it from unwanted areas.

[@moneyjuice]

😂😂😂 thinking that a tiny sheet of Plastic will stop bamboo is quite funny

[@geekay633]

buy the clumping variety, which doesn't spread