Hi Nathan,

For each square foot of surface area you will need a min. of 1/4 square inch
of drainage. In a 2'x4' planter or 8 square feet you will need at least 2
square inches of holes more is better.

For nuda I would use 3/16 to 1/4 inch holes placed no more than 2" up from
the very bottom of the barrel.

Cover the holes with 1/4 inch hardware cloth and landscape filter fabric
before adding your soil. This will keep your drainage hole form clogging up
and not draining which will kill your bamboo.

You could use gravel and fabric colth but I like the hardware cloth.

Just drill a bunch of holes so it will drain.

Hope this helps.

Bert
"Nathan Mellor" wrote in message
...
Greetings from the Pacific Northwest.

I am building a makeshift bamboo planter for p nuda bamboo. The intention
is
to fit two recycled Yoshida barrels, sawed in half lengthwise, into a
trench.

My question regards the drainage holes. I believe I should have some holes
drilled in there. Ideally, they would be the right size for water and root
fibers, but too small for the rhizomes to penetrate and start growing in
my
neighbor's yards.

Is there an ideal size? And how many holes would a half 55 gallon barrell
need

Thanks

Nathan