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Very invasive (for the running kind). One of my rental houses has it in the backyard and I have tried everything to get rid of the stuff. One person planted it a few decades ago and now every backyard on the block has it. I have seen it kill big oak trees by using all of the water.
On the other hand, there are "clumping" bamboos that don't spread by runners. Those should be okay.
On the other hand, there are "clumping" bamboos that don't spread by runners. Those should be okay.
Yep. There are varieties that don't run. They tend to be 12' or less from what I've seen in NC. The 60' tall versions can get out of control quickly. A neighbor used a chainsaw every spring and fall to cut the runners in the ground.
Extremely invasive. My parents' house had it coming from two negligent neigbors' yards and I fought my own two front war to tame it.
Not to say it does not look cool. You could plant it in a restrictive area, but you would have to build a fairly deep underground barrier to prevent it from speading. It works it way under rocks, through stone walls, around tree roots and foundations- almost everywhere.
I've got a nice clumping bamboo here in Denver that does well. After the first two winters, I had to cut it back to about a foot tall because the rest of it wasn't greening up. This winter, all the growth from last summer remained fairly green all winter and has completely greened up, so I'm curious to see how tall it gets this summer - already about 6' to start. In 3 years, the clump hasn't noticeably spread out, although I'm sure it has a little bit.
My landscape architect told me I could get one of those HUGE buckets that trees come in at the nurseries, dig a hole in the ground and put the bucket in there and plant bamboo in the bucket. Sounds like a pain, but it won't spread.
I have heard the only way to really get rid of it is to burn it out. Sort of like kudzu or something.
My landscape architect told me I could get one of those HUGE buckets that trees come in at the nurseries, dig a hole in the ground and put the bucket in there and plant bamboo in the bucket. Sounds like a pain, but it won't spread.
Or you can use metal flashing that you can buy at most hardware stores. Dig a trench at least 18" deep. Stand the flashing vertically in the trench. Backfill to cover the metal edge. The runners can't go through metal.
Or you can use metal flashing that you can buy at most hardware stores. Dig a trench at least 18" deep. Stand the flashing vertically in the trench. Backfill to cover the metal edge. The runners can't go through metal.
What if the metal shifts? All a bamboo root needs is a slight gap and it will blast through and multiply.
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. When it starts coming up in the lawn it will ruin lawnmower blades in no time. I even find it coming up under the house
