richard wrote:
Joe Shmoe wrote:

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


See the picture at
http://www.rhodamine.eu/~richard/dia.../100_0043.jpeg

It is of a phyllostachys (not sure which variety) in the Jardin des
Plantes (Paris).
I make the assumption that the new culms originate from the plant that
is visible.
I don't think it is there any longer.
As you can see, it is not a stay at home type !

I'm told that the way to eradicate new culms is to let them grow until
they start to put out leaves - then cut them down immediately.

Here's another picture - taken in Montpellier - which has better weather ...

http://www.rhodamine.eu/~richard/dia.../100_0057.jpeg