Bamboo is beautiful and you can put many varieties of it in your garden; you don't have to fear it will take over if you follow a few simple steps to contain it. Keep reading.
Steps
Step 1. If you are not looking to control an existing plant, the best way to start is to choose a species compatible with the style of your garden
Bamboo is a thick grass, and like its smaller cousins, there are some varieties that spread easily and others that remain more harvested. If you already have a bamboo variety that tends to spread, or if you prefer the style and look of the genus that spreads, skip to step 2!
Step 2. Some argue that the best way to control bamboo is to eat its shoots
Most bamboo shoots are edible raw, but all are edible cooked. This is indeed a very effective method, but it requires diligent harvesting every year. The rhizomes left in place after harvesting form more shoots the following year.
Step 3. If it is feasible in your situation, put natural barriers
Although bamboo can grow next to a stream, it cannot cross it. Bamboo does not grow in a totally dry or waterlogged area for more than three months of the year.
Step 4. Again, if the option is feasible, bamboo can be easily controlled by growing a lawn on all sides for 6 meters or more
Mow your lawn regularly during the budding season and tender shoots will be killed off before they start growing.
Step 5. If natural barriers or a large lawn aren't choices you can put into practice, you need to consider active methods
One of the easiest is to make good conditions where bamboo is and bad conditions where you don't want it to grow. For example, water it regularly, enrich the soil with organic material such as compost, and add a few inches of mulch where you want it to live. Instead, eliminate water and nutrients in areas where you don't want it to grow. This is a reliable method only when combined with the next step.
Step 6. To improve on step 5 above, dig a hole 30cm deep around the bamboo
This plant spreads by spreading the rhizomes outside, close to the surface and those that come out of the hole can be easily identified. Check for these rhizomes once or twice a year and cut them back whenever you see them. Even if another one will be formed the following year, the one that is cut will not continue to grow in that direction.
Step 7. The methods shown so far are very successful, but not perfect
Occasionally a rhizome may come out of the hole, for example, which may require you to continue digging to prevent it from spreading. If you really want a long-term solution that requires little maintenance, you should install a rhizome barrier. While this is the hardest choice, it is the most effective way to control bamboo that tends to spread.
Advice
- The rhizome barrier must be installed correctly if you want it to produce the desired results. Take your time, search for articles online, or follow the manufacturer's instructions to make sure you get the job done right.
- If you see a shoot sprouting out of the bamboo area, it's like a flag indicating the location of the rhizome. Break it with a fork and shears, remove the rhizome, and your bamboo will be contained once again.
Warnings
- A hole 30 cm deep can be a stumbling hazard. Use this method only if it can be done safely.
- Certain climatic conditions can favor the propagation of some varieties of bamboo. Even with the best of methods, there is a chance that a rhizome can expand. If you really want to avoid this risk, choose a variety that stays harvested.
