can bamboo spread into woods
 

I am in the process of planting some "Vivax" and "Hennon" running
bamboo and would like to plant it just in front of some rather dense
woods.. My thought is that the woods would serve as a control to its
spread in that direction and that I could then just mow to maintain it
from spreading too far into the field in front of the woods.. My
brother who shares the property is afraid that it would spread into
the woods and then through the woods to an adjoining neighbor about
300 feet away.. We have heard and read so many horror stories
concerning bamboo running rampant once established that it has made us
uncertain about how really aggressive bamboo can be.. Can the shade
of woods serve as a control for running bamboo or should we plant it
somewhere where we can definetely keep the area around it mowed to
control its spread..

can bamboo spread into woods
 

can bamboo spread into woods
 

david fraleigh wrote:

I am in the process of planting some "Vivax" and "Hennon" running
bamboo and would like to plant it just in front of some rather dense
woods.. My thought is that the woods would serve as a control to its
spread in that direction and that I could then just mow to maintain it
from spreading too far into the field in front of the woods.. My
brother who shares the property is afraid that it would spread into
the woods and then through the woods to an adjoining neighbor about
300 feet away.. We have heard and read so many horror stories
concerning bamboo running rampant once established that it has made us
uncertain about how really aggressive bamboo can be.. Can the shade
of woods serve as a control for running bamboo or should we plant it
somewhere where we can definetely keep the area around it mowed to
control its spread..


It would obviously take some time to travel 300 feet, but it is only a
matter of time.

I visited the Botanical Gardens in Montpellier where they have a mature
bamboo "forest" It is about 200 feet square and was planted some 30 or
40 years ago. Probably they have been taking steps to keep it in check.

can bamboo spread into woods
 

ah the rhizome barrier
please tell me more about this contraption
I have sheets of corrugated roofing
placed edgewise they might stop the rampant running


"Beecrofter" wrote in message
om...
(david fraleigh) wrote in message
. com...
I am in the process of planting some "Vivax" and "Hennon" running
bamboo and would like to plant it just in front of some rather dense
woods.. My thought is that the woods would serve as a control to its
spread in that direction and that I could then just mow to maintain it
from spreading too far into the field in front of the woods.. My
brother who shares the property is afraid that it would spread into
the woods and then through the woods to an adjoining neighbor about
300 feet away.. We have heard and read so many horror stories
concerning bamboo running rampant once established that it has made us
uncertain about how really aggressive bamboo can be.. Can the shade
of woods serve as a control for running bamboo or should we plant it
somewhere where we can definetely keep the area around it mowed to
control its spread..

It will run into the woods.
It will run faster in the open warmth of sunshine.
It can run a distance equal to it's height in a season..
You could cut down whatever comes up in the wooded area .
Or you could use a rhizome barrier.

can bamboo spread into woods
 

Hi. I have purchashed a house with Bamboo EVERYWHERE. I think someone once had this bright idea of planting it and not controlling it the way you guys have suggested. Does anyone have any ideas of how I can clear it up? I have cut it all back to root, but it is basically all over my garden and I wouldn't mind a little bit in the corner, but not everywhere!

can bamboo spread into woods
 

"Bob Baldwin" wrote in message news:ixT3b.79272$xf.26137@lakeread04...
ah the rhizome barrier
please tell me more about this contraption
I have sheets of corrugated roofing
placed edgewise they might stop the rampant running

u could cut down whatever comes up in the wooded area .
Or you could use a rhizome barrier.

Something strong enough to stop the rhizomes and resistant to rot
decay corrossion and cracking buried 24-36" deep with 3-4" above the
surface and the wholle thing slightly angled out of the grove to
direct the rhizomes up and out where they can be severed.
The commercial stuff is 40-60 mil poly.

can bamboo spread into woods
 

Beecrofter wrote:

"Bob Baldwin" wrote in message news:ixT3b.79272$xf.26137@lakeread04...
ah the rhizome barrier
please tell me more about this contraption
I have sheets of corrugated roofing
placed edgewise they might stop the rampant running

u could cut down whatever comes up in the wooded area .
Or you could use a rhizome barrier.

Something strong enough to stop the rhizomes and resistant to rot
decay corrossion and cracking buried 24-36" deep with 3-4" above the
surface and the wholle thing slightly angled out of the grove to
direct the rhizomes up and out where they can be severed.
The commercial stuff is 40-60 mil poly.

Poly what ? !
Polyethylene, Polypropylene, Polycarbonate, Polyvinyl Chloride ...

I guess that you mean Polypropylene, I'd be interested if you meant
polyethylene as I have some damp proof course that may suffice.
I suspect that Polycarbonate would work fine also - I have some that
is 0.75 mm thick and very tough.

can bamboo spread into woods
 

Beecrofter wrote:

"Bob Baldwin" wrote in message news:ixT3b.79272$xf.26137@lakeread04...
ah the rhizome barrier
please tell me more about this contraption
I have sheets of corrugated roofing
placed edgewise they might stop the rampant running

u could cut down whatever comes up in the wooded area .
Or you could use a rhizome barrier.

Something strong enough to stop the rhizomes and resistant to rot
decay corrossion and cracking buried 24-36" deep with 3-4" above the
surface and the wholle thing slightly angled out of the grove to
direct the rhizomes up and out where they can be severed.
The commercial stuff is 40-60 mil poly.

Poly what ? !
Polyethylene, Polypropylene, Polycarbonate, Polyvinyl Chloride ...

I guess that you mean Polypropylene, I'd be interested if you meant
polyethylene as I have some damp proof course that may suffice.
I suspect that Polycarbonate would work fine also - I have some that
is 0.75 mm thick and very tough.

can bamboo spread into woods
 

Beecrofter wrote:

"Bob Baldwin" wrote in message news:ixT3b.79272$xf.26137@lakeread04...
ah the rhizome barrier
please tell me more about this contraption
I have sheets of corrugated roofing
placed edgewise they might stop the rampant running

u could cut down whatever comes up in the wooded area .
Or you could use a rhizome barrier.

Something strong enough to stop the rhizomes and resistant to rot
decay corrossion and cracking buried 24-36" deep with 3-4" above the
surface and the wholle thing slightly angled out of the grove to
direct the rhizomes up and out where they can be severed.
The commercial stuff is 40-60 mil poly.

Poly what ? !
Polyethylene, Polypropylene, Polycarbonate, Polyvinyl Chloride ...

I guess that you mean Polypropylene, I'd be interested if you meant
polyethylene as I have some damp proof course that may suffice.
I suspect that Polycarbonate would work fine also - I have some that
is 0.75 mm thick and very tough.

can bamboo spread into woods
 

Poly what ? !
Polyethylene, Polypropylene, Polycarbonate, Polyvinyl Chloride ...

I guess that you mean Polypropylene, I'd be interested if you meant
polyethylene as I have some damp proof course that may suffice.
I suspect that Polycarbonate would work fine also - I have some that
is 0.75 mm thick and very tough.

What is so hard about typing "rhizome barrier" into a search engine?

Here is a blurb ripped off a dot.com

Many materials have been tried for bamboo containment. Concrete
cracks, metal rusts most plastics age and crack, rubber is too soft.
Polyethelene is the right material but must be thick enough to resist
penetration but flexible enough to handle and install. The American
Bamboo Society web site recommends barrier that "should be at least
0.040 inch thick". We have had customers bring us barrier that is .040
inch thick with a rhizome right through it. Bamboo Giant has
formulated a custom barrier material that is .060 thick, 50% thicker
than that recommended by the ABS. It is UV protected for long life and
has a plasticizer added to make it easier to work with.

Rolls are 148 feet long and weigh 115 lbs.

can bamboo spread into woods
 

Beecrofter wrote:
The commercial stuff is 40-60 mil poly.
=

Poly what ? !
Polyethylene, Polypropylene, Polycarbonate, Polyvinyl Chloride ...

I guess that you mean Polypropylene, I'd be interested if you meant
polyethylene as I have some damp proof course that may suffice.
I suspect that Polycarbonate would work fine also - I have some that
is 0.75 mm thick and very tough.
=

What is so hard about typing "rhizome barrier" into a search engine?

Nothing, but it is valuable to get a precision statement from a practitio=
ner.

=

Here is a blurb ripped off a dot.com
=

Many materials have been tried for bamboo containment. Concrete
cracks, metal rusts most plastics age and crack, rubber is too soft.
Polyethelene is the right material but must be thick enough to resist
penetration but flexible enough to handle and install. The American
Bamboo Society web site recommends barrier that "should be at least
0.040 inch thick". We have had customers bring us barrier that is .040
inch thick with a rhizome right through it. Bamboo Giant has
formulated a custom barrier material that is .060 thick, 50% thicker
than that recommended by the ABS. It is UV protected for long life and
has a plasticizer added to make it easier to work with.
=

Rolls are 148 feet long and weigh 115 lbs.

Interesting, there are evidently many ways to skin a cat:-

For reference, La bambouseraie de Prafrance
http://www.bambouseraie.fr/bambou/conseil.htm
sells polypropylene anti rhizome barrier - here's what they say:-
La barri=E8re anti-rhizomes BAR 70 que nous commercialisons se pr=E9sente=
en
rouleaux de polypropyl=E8ne de 70 cm de large, faciles =E0 mettre en =9Cu=
vre.

The barrier that I have bought from the Palm Centre
http://www.palmcentre.co.uk/ is 65.3 mm high and 0.8 mm thick
that is 0.0315 inches and very tough. Harder perhaps
than .06" polyethylene.

Out of interest, the polythene damp proof course I have is 0.6 mm
(0.0236 inches) and evidently not up to the job.

Thank you.
Richard

can bamboo spread into woods
 

Beecrofter wrote:
The commercial stuff is 40-60 mil poly.
=

Poly what ? !
Polyethylene, Polypropylene, Polycarbonate, Polyvinyl Chloride ...

I guess that you mean Polypropylene, I'd be interested if you meant
polyethylene as I have some damp proof course that may suffice.
I suspect that Polycarbonate would work fine also - I have some that
is 0.75 mm thick and very tough.
=

What is so hard about typing "rhizome barrier" into a search engine?

Nothing, but it is valuable to get a precision statement from a practitio=
ner.

=

Here is a blurb ripped off a dot.com
=

Many materials have been tried for bamboo containment. Concrete
cracks, metal rusts most plastics age and crack, rubber is too soft.
Polyethelene is the right material but must be thick enough to resist
penetration but flexible enough to handle and install. The American
Bamboo Society web site recommends barrier that "should be at least
0.040 inch thick". We have had customers bring us barrier that is .040
inch thick with a rhizome right through it. Bamboo Giant has
formulated a custom barrier material that is .060 thick, 50% thicker
than that recommended by the ABS. It is UV protected for long life and
has a plasticizer added to make it easier to work with.
=

Rolls are 148 feet long and weigh 115 lbs.

Interesting, there are evidently many ways to skin a cat:-

For reference, La bambouseraie de Prafrance
http://www.bambouseraie.fr/bambou/conseil.htm
sells polypropylene anti rhizome barrier - here's what they say:-
La barri=E8re anti-rhizomes BAR 70 que nous commercialisons se pr=E9sente=
en
rouleaux de polypropyl=E8ne de 70 cm de large, faciles =E0 mettre en =9Cu=
vre.

The barrier that I have bought from the Palm Centre
http://www.palmcentre.co.uk/ is 65.3 cm high and 0.8 mm thick
that is 0.0315 inches and very tough. Harder perhaps
than .06" polyethylene.

Out of interest, the polythene damp proof course I have is 0.6 mm
(0.0236 inches) and evidently not up to the job.

Thank you.
Richard

can bamboo spread into woods
 

bamboeverywhere wrote in message ws.com...
Hi. I have purchashed a house with Bamboo EVERYWHERE. I think someone
once had this bright idea of planting it and not controlling it the way
you guys have suggested. Does anyone have any ideas of how I can clear
it up? I have cut it all back to root, but it is basically all over my
garden and I wouldn't mind a little bit in the corner, but not
everywhere!

Cut it down where you don't want it and mow it when it is shooting.
At this point it has hopelessly overtaken your yard. While it is
possible to put a barrier around the area you want to keep and kill
the rest, it is a very daunting task that will take many years.

If you want to do this, dig a trench around the area you want to keep
(about 30") and put in a barrier with about 4 inches exposed. Cut
down everything you want to get rid of. As it shoots let it reach
full height and as it is just branching out cut down the culm. Keep
doing this and eventually you will exaust the stored energy in the
rhizomes. This will take YEARS to do and you will also have to
monitor the barriers to make sure there are no escapees. Herbicides
won't give you the results you want, as bamboo is VERY hardy and
running bamboos are the hardiest of them all.

Good luck, if I had to make the decision I would opt for mowing new
shoots as they come in and just keep it where you want it, but I am
inherently lazy :-)

Chris
Chino,CA