Hi everyone,

I live in the UK and have just planted a Phyllostachys aureosulcata 'Lama Tempel' in my garden and have some questions.

The soil is around the 6.0 - 6.2 ph that I am told Bamboos like. It would also get a good amount of sun throughout the day, but the site is quite windy.

1) I believe this bamboo is a runner and not a clumper, and I haven't installed a root barrier. I am happy for the bamboo to roam within 3meter radius of where I have planted it but is it likely to expand much past this distance in years to come ?

2a) If it does start running outside this area, I was intending to sever the rhizomes with a sharp spade. Do the Rhizomes stick within the top 6 inches, or could they be 18inches down, and outside the reach of a spade ?

2b) My soil turns to soft clay approx 8 inches down, and wondered if this would make it more likely that the rhizomes would grow within this layer as it is soft and retains more water than the soil layer above it? This would make it more difficult to sever the Rhizomes with a spade.

3) Appox 6-8 meters in every direction is a huge Eucalyptus tree, and fully grown conifer, and a 2m baby Oak tree. Will these nearby trees help deprive the Bamboo of water, and therefore reduce its growth, or will this cause the Bamboo to expand in the search for food ?

4) I'm happy for the Bamboo to go mad in my own garden, but if it expands more than 5 meters in any direction, it would start entering neighbours gardens, which is what I am most worried about. Can anyone tell me if this is likely in the long-term ?

5) I also have another bamboo that I wish to plant, but want to restrict its rhizomes quite heavily due to space. If I brought a large plastic pot (the heavy duty type, not the disposable pots that new plants come in) and sunk this in the ground, would this confine the Rhizomes or would they be able to bust through ? I have heard that Rhizomes can get through Root Barrier Fabric in the long term, and wondered if this might be a suitable substitute ?

Thanks for any tips you can give me.
Regards