Artistic Gardener's Frequently Asked Questions:

bamboo/grasses
perennials
trees/shrubs
woodland/native plants

Bamboo:

I've heard that running bamboo is invasive. Is there a way to control it?

There are several effective ways to control running bamboo including rhizome barrier, raised beds and root pruning. The rhizome barrier that we use in the nursery is a 60 mil high density polyethylene that is thirty inches wide/deep. This material works better than concrete or metal, is less expensive and lasts 25-30 years. Completely encircle your bamboo planting with rhizome barrier and it becomes a large, bottomless pot that bamboo rhizomes cannot penetrate. Most of the rhizome growth is in the top 12 inches of soil, so the thirty inch depth of the barrier is sufficient for containment. Return to top

What about Raised Beds? Will that control running bamboo?

Raised beds are an effective method of controlling bamboo and they are especially useful in situations where the soil consists of rock or clay, or in low-lying areas where the soil stays wet. Bamboo can be planted right on top of the ground with a rich, well-drained soil bermed around the root ball. The soil can be contained within a rock wall, or with a wooden structure built around it. Any rhizomes that stray out of the raised bed should do so at ground level, or above, and are easily cut off with hand pruners. Return to top

What about withholding water to control running bamboo?

Withholding water, or watering only the area in which you want the plant to grow works. Rhizome growth occurs during late summer and early fall in the Northwest which is typically a period of drought. It is during this period when bamboo manufactures and store sugars in their rhizomes. In the spring the accumulated energy goes into developing new shoots. New shoots grow to full size in about 30-60 days, and branches and leaves develop in another 30-60 days. Top-dressing the area where you want plant growth with garden compost, composted manures, and old sawdust encourages shallow and concentrated rhizome growth. Return to top

One more suggestion: Since most of the rhizome growth is in the top 12" of soil, bamboo can be controlled by trenching around the plant one foot deep and pruning the rhizome back to the area in which you want the plant to grow. The best time to do this is late summer to early fall. Return to top

Perennials:

Trees & Shrubs:

Woodland & Native Plants: