The Best Way to Contain Spreading Bamboo | The Barefooted Gardener

Bamboo is a fascinating plant whose growth rate needs to be experienced firsthand: but you need to know how to keep it contained in most settings. In this updated video, you’ll learn how I modified an old technique used in Japan for centuries. If you have a large bamboo grove, a deep ripper attachment for tractors may help you and save some time. For all those who are worried I do have laces on those work boots now… 😂
The best source for hardy bamboo is Bamboo Garden Nursery, Oregon USA.
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Here is my original video about rhizome pruning.
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[@larrythelepp]

Great video to explain that bamboo is a fantastic plant and can be controlled with common sense and bit of good old fashioned graft. Like any plant, keep it maintained and it will not be a problem. Clear explanation on cutting through rhizomes. It's how I control mime.

[@hotchihuahua1546]

I like your approach and explanation of this plants root system . Controlling without totally eliminating a plant I have always liked .

[@blueman5924]

I planted mine in large plastic garbage cans, with a small drain hole covered with fabric. Top of can slightly above grade. Seems to be working.

[@drefhill]

Rizhomes can go much under 1 foot. My Viridiglaucescens make some rizhomes at 30cm, some even below that. The best tool is a pickaxe with a wide side. And you need to dig a trench all around the bambou, because remooving the rizhomes 1 by 1 work only when the bambou is young small and if you do it regularly. The easiest is to plant the bamboo at height, make an elevated garden with 50cm plank-fence or what ever you can find, unlike a rizhome barrier it doesn't need to be fully sealed, when the rizhomes get out and meet the air they'll dry and the tip will die.

[@TheBarefootedGardener]

That’s true they can, but generally they want to be shallow, in the organically rich soil. I like the idea of the raised bed, especially for P. viridiglaucescens. I’ve never used the barrier, so I don’t know how bamboos respond to it, but I have seen rhizomes on the áureosulcata (shown in the video) travel downwards when they contact the foundation of the house. (Not sure how far down it would’ve traveled because I cut it off. The rhizomes were actually deformed at that point.

[@josephrogers6689]

I have bamboo that started on one side of the property when I bought my home some 23 years ago. I never spread until about 6 years after I moved in. Suddenly it started moving toward the opposite side of my property. I continued to clear out the center of this grove where I had a fire pit and more recently started building a tiki bar. I received a few weeks ago a notice that my township wanted me to remove or contain in with a 30-day goal to complete this. My property is about 150 ft wide and 300 ft deep so for me to put a barrier around the entire perimeter would be quite expensive and labor intensive. Research and communications with our local university led me to a procedure where I can cut it all down and then cut it down again next year before it produces leaves. This is supposed to effectively starve it and eventually kill it off. I have already cut down about 200 of what is likely about 500-600 canes in my yard. If I mulch these canes are they able to reproduce if in contact with the soil and is there any other recommendations to get this under control quickly ?? By the way, I live in NJ and this is a running bamboo that is very hardy.

[@TheBarefootedGardener]

Hi Joseph, Sorry to hear that about the Bamboo. To answer your question, no. Mulching the cut canes will not make them re-sprout; not with any of the hardy/ running species. To be honest if it were me, I would have an eBay/ Etsy shop where you sell bundles of them for something cheap. You could probably make a couple hundred bucks. You could also show them articles about how rhizome pruning is effective- if you like the bamboo, then you won’t have to spend all that money on barriers.

[@AutodidactEngineer]

I love bamboo the tall kind 🥰

[@ThePlantUtopia]

Your bamboo is beautiful. I have a raised bed that keeps my bisetti, black and spectabilis bamboo contained but the spectabilis likes to peak over the side of the bed. I think I might move the spectabilis to the other side of the yard so it doesn’t escape to the neighbor’s yard even though I keep a close eye on it.

[@TheBarefootedGardener]

Thank you! Sounds like a good setup. How does the black bamboo grow for you?

[@tanluwils1736]

I just discovered your channel today and subscribed. I definitely share your passion for plants! I'm also from New York State, so I'll be paying close attention to your gardening tips. I think bamboo is a cool plant, and is especially beautiful in winter. I wonder if there are any natural techniques that discourage bamboo from taking over yard. They seem like they can thrive almost anywhere.

[@air7tv]

Backhoe and concrete 👍😀

[@TheBarefootedGardener]

🤪 aww no!! Spades and cardio!

[@fozzybear8878]

The roots don't grow DEEP- they grow WIDE! One day, you will be sorry you ever encouraged bamboo.

[@TheBarefootedGardener]

True! They do grow shallow & wide; my plant would spread about 4’ / year if I did not rhizome prune. Uncontrolled bamboo can definitely be a headache and/ or an afternoon of work to get it back in control. I love & respect bamboo, and the goal of the video is to help people understand how it grows. It’s a fascinating plant, and one of the best ways to sequester carbon because of its fast growth. In my opinion if you maintain it, you’d be sorry not to grow it. :) But people in the tropics can grow tropical clumping bamboo and still get the thick stems, unlike in a colder climate.

[@fozzybear8878]

@@TheBarefootedGardener Good response. :)

[@tenza7545]

My sister’s neighbor has bamboo and now her back yard is almost a bamboo jungle. I’m trying to figure out how to tame it wish she asked me sooner though.

[@TheBarefootedGardener]

The best way to control bamboo is to dig it out. It grows shallow, and needs to be rhizome pruned once after new shoots leaf out and again before it gets cold. For me, that’s August and October/ November.

[@chelseafatin4106]

Is there any chances that we could buried some fences like aluminium/bamboo inside the soil as the barrier for the plant bamboo not spreading all over our yard?

[@TheBarefootedGardener]

Hi Chelsea, Yes there is A product called “rhizome barrier”, I think you can get it at Bamboo Garden. You’d bury in the ground and that would prevent the bamboo from spreading all over. However you want to make sure that you do leave an opening of some size in there so that the rhizomes can purposefully escape. Then you cut them off with a spade. That will prevent the bamboo from getting root bound, and keep the stems big. It’s also worth noting that the wider/larger area you give the bamboo, the bigger it will get and the more cold hardy it will be. The other option would be to have no physical barrier in the ground and only cut the rhizomes with a spade once after the shoots leaf out, and again before winter.

[@jonny_mazerati9410]

Clark where are your shoelaces 😱 also will you be my bamboo maintenance man I will pay you 💰 😅

[@mybroskpr2366]

great video.when you cut root away from main clump does root of severed part continue to grow?

[@TheBarefootedGardener]

Hi Kevin, Thanks! It depends how long it has been growing, but if you keep up with the maintenance, it cut rhizome should not regrow. You can pull the cut pieces out of the ground if you’re worried about them regrowing.

[@yunshottasim6a503]

Does bamboo take over flowers or other bushes? Could you have a flower bed next to bamboo?

[@TheBarefootedGardener]

Short answer is definitely you can have flowers near bamboo! It depends on what type you plant: runner vs. Clumping bamboo. If you plant a running type, and maintain it 2x/ season, absolutely. Depending on how the sun moves through your garden, you’d need to take shading of other plants into account. There’s a lot of information on this- my comment here is barely scratching the surface. I’m going to add this to my video ideas.

[@dracokaiser]

I’d be more than happy to buy those rhizomes from you!!!

[@blueman5924]

I found a neighbour with an out of control patch, and they were more than happy for me to dig as much as I wanted. 🤣

[@timeosso4513]

Does putting concrete around bamboo from spreading?

[@TheBarefootedGardener]

It can, but a sidewalk is not enough. I’d think a good quality rhizome barrier is cheaper than concrete, and better suited for climates which freeze.

[@hawkkim1974]

obviously you haven't gone through your cow town summer house that hasn't been visited for years for financial reason having become a bamboo forest and you not even being able to enter your front yard. bamboos are extremely invasive. Just don't even think about it if you are not ready to maintain it on weekly basis.

[@TheBarefootedGardener]

Bamboo in the Phyllostachys genus only require maintenance 2x per year, once in August, and again before winter. They could be only maintained only once a year, and for those who live in more tropical climates can plant Bambusa, or tropical clumping bamboo.

[@wesleyhackney]

I have one question. Why is it advised to put a barrier 24” deep if what you said is true and they only grow no more than 13” deep? Just curious . For me o will stick to clumping bamboo

[@TheBarefootedGardener]

Hey Wesley, The 24” depth for barrier is essentially a fail-safe to guarantee that rhizomes won’t dive down which I have had happen against the foundation. The best way to install the barrier is to leave a side open, so the rhizomes find their way out and can be cut. I can see this coming in handy if the best area may have services underground, you can keep the bamboo away from but still enjoy the plant. Clumping bamboos are great too!

[@hpygolkyone]

Main Takeaway From This: Bamboo is *TOO MUCH FRIGGIN WORK*

[@TheBarefootedGardener]

I think clumping bamboo might be a better option for you. Twice a year is too much work? How often do you mow?! 😉Thanks for watching!

[@samurai76517]

Gee, did anyone think in case you ever decided to sell the house - how would new owners react to having bamboo on there new property. Must be a thrill to sell ?

[@TheBarefootedGardener]

Hopefully people will see that they have bamboo, and think to control it before it becomes and issue. Or at least share this concept with landscapers. All problems with bamboo are preventable.

[@corrinetaylor7585]

My next door neighbor has bamboo and I hate it. It is very invasive. It’s coming up on my side. Is there a way I can keep it from doing that? How do I get rid of the parts still in the ground after cut? They are so hard and dangerous.

[@TheBarefootedGardener]

Hi Corrine, That’s one of the reasons I posted this video, is because it’s a shame that some people plant bamboo and do nothing to control it. You’ll probably have to put in some cardio and remove as much of the rhizome on your side as possible. Most running bamboo spreads about 4 to 5 feet a year. All of the spreading occurs during summer and fall after shoots leaf out. If you have tough soil, this is a good opportunity to get some organic matter worked in and then reseed the lawn or repair as necessary. You can install a proper bamboo barrier. Get the one that’s 24 inches deep from bamboogarden.com, leave 2 inches sticking out of the ground. You will need to periodically check that barrier but the trouble is with the barrier is that the roots can sometimes go around it depending on the situation. (I suggested their website because I know for a fact that it’s not a knock off barrier... If it’s too flimsy then the rhizomes can puncture through it. My best suggestion for you is to get in some cardio and manually prune out the rhizomes as laid out in the video, so once after shoots leaf out and again right before winter. Ideally, then you pull out the cut pieces that are in the ground. Most runners shouldn’t have the energy to re-sprout, but it’s better to “dot t’s and cross your i’s” than to hope that they don’t sprout again.

[@timeosso4513]

What type of bamboo doesn’t spread

[@TheBarefootedGardener]

Quite a few, I’d need some info about your climate before I gave you varieties or species.

[@timeosso4513]

Which types of bamboo do not spread???

[@TheBarefootedGardener]

What climate do you live in? I’ll give you a few recommendations

[@ksero1000]

Hey, is there any way to control the spread of adams needle yucca without digging up the soil? I planted a few babies (in a troublesome slope heavy cement like clay where I don’t think anything else with deep roots will grow) for erosion control, but I must keep an area clear for me and my mower to get through to access the rest of my yard. I am afraid that disturbing the soil to control it’s spread will make matters worse. Now I’m thinking I better dig them out now before it’s too late and have no economical solution for my problem. Funny thing I was thinking... when my indoor pothos start trailing across high traffic areas on my floor, it seems like when they get stepped on enough...they make an effort to change direction (like after being stepped on a few times, they’ll try to make an alternative route toward the light, albeit slowly... sometimes the traffic eventually accidentally results in the vine severing itself from repeated crush injury). I don’t prune the vines off bc I like when they trail because if I can avoid stepping on them for long enough, they will eventually get so long that long that the vine can be tucked along the base of the wall while it’s end reaches the wall across the room and start to climb, but after awhile it’s like they respond & change their growth pattern before succumbing to amputation. So I wonder if traffic with a mower could “teach” a yucca to NOT, or to STOP pushing growth where it gets trampled. I’m finding little online about strategic yucca placement/control, only either how to care for it or how to eliminate it.

[@TheBarefootedGardener]

I think that maybe just cutting the stems back to the ground but keep the roots in the ground to maintain your access. Yeah the mower may be a good start but you’d want to cut it lower. Maybe do some Boulder work to help with erosion control and keep the path open. I wouldn’t step on yuccas, they’re pretty sharp. Or could you make a path somewhere else?

[@ksero1000]

@@TheBarefootedGardener thanks for responding 💚 That was a lot. And im sure took awhile for you to visualize what I was trying to explain so thank you for your time! No, the way the slope is, that’s the only flat enough spot I can maneuver the mower through. I think with some loppers and a mower...I’ll find a way through 😁

[@snowdogtropics148]

Where are you from? I’m zone 6, Ohio, and wouldn’t mind trying the yellow groove bamboo.

[@ThePlantUtopia]

SnowDog Tropics I am in Ohio zone 6 and I am growing like 7 types of bamboo, running and clumping. It stays green all winter and it is beautiful. The most aggressive bamboo I grow is phyllostachys spectabilis and I grow it in a raised mortared brick bed I built for it.

[@snowdogtropics148]

Plant Utopia where did you get your yellow groove from?

[@ThePlantUtopia]

SnowDog Tropics I ordered it from Etsy.com from a shop called Mayagardens. It was very healthy and grows like crazy.

[@TheBarefootedGardener]

I’m from New York. Yellow Groove is one of my favorite bamboos. It has potential to get big along with Incense Bamboo. I got my bamboo from Bamboo Garden out in Oregon. I also have P. aureosulcata ‘Spectabilis’ which screens out a neighbors house about 10’ away.

[@kathyklein5255]

Please please please get to whatever the barrier you use is. I couldn't get through this to find it.

[@TheBarefootedGardener]

I don’t use physical barriers for this planting. Bamboo shield is what I recommend but you need to leave a spot open to let the runners get out so the plant doesn’t get rootbound. From there, you need to chop back the runners. If you live in zone 8 or warmer, use tropical clumping bamboo like Bambusa.

[@deh5860]

I just kick over the shoots I do not want.

[@TheBarefootedGardener]

Only problem with that is the rhizome is still in the ground. So who knows how far it’ll travel elsewhere.

[@fozzybear8878]

Argh! Don't put that soil back in- it is full of rhizomes!

[@flat6fever680]

What a joke. Bamboo is the devils plant.

[@insectwildlife37]

You can try clumping bamboo