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

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.

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

Yes, it could - each runner will in turn put out more runners, so if it expanded a metre this year, say, then those runners were to put out runners themselves, it could go on and on. But it won't if you keep an eye on it and stop it in its tracks. It's like having a hedge; you have to keep it maintained or it'll go mad.

I've never found that with my Phylllostachys, and I've got several different varieties, including aureosulcata. BUT the soil does make a difference.

I've got clay soil too, and I find the bamboos don't seem to like going down into it - they tend to run closer to the surface. I keep a close eye on them, and any shoot that's growing from the main clump I trace back, clearing the soil around the buried runner. I usually find that if I can get the blade of the spade underneath the runner, I can prise it up.

More likely to retard it, I would think

Yes. If you let a bamboo go out of control, it can go anywhere. I think it very unlikely it would travel more than a metre without sending up a shoot, though, and then you can spot it.

Well, I've read of them bursting through concrete floors, so I doubt your plastic pot will stop it if it really wants t go. Steel's the only thing I've heard of that's pretty well bamboo-proof, but I'm open to contradiction!

P Aureosulcata is one of the more "inquisitive" Phyllostachys that you can grow in Britain, but, in British conditions it is not very invasive like some other bamboos you can grow here such as Sasa and Yushania spp. It is known to be really rather invasive in warmer climates, and you've been shown some pictures of what it can do in the south of France, but most places in Britain, it won't do that. Though if you are in a mild and damp part of Britain such as the south coast, it will be more invasive. Aureosulcata's general tendency is to send off one long rhizome in one direction, creating a long line of volunteers - you can see a photo of this in Paul Whitaker's book - not invade uncontrollably in all directions. So I expect that in practice, with plenty of space, you will be able to control it. Ideally one grows it surrounded by lawn and then the lawnmower will do most of what is needed. I've got a P. vivax aureocaulis, also a bit thuggish, I grow surrounded by lawn, and the lawn-mower keeps it in place.