The hardy Chinese Wonder or Fargesi jiuzhaigou No.1 does not need a rhizome barrier. Like all other Fargesia, it grows in clumps and does not form long rhizomes. This makes it much easier to remove it from the garden if necessary.
Red bamboo does not need a rhizome barrier, giant bamboo does!
The Phyllostachys aureosulcata "Spectabilis" also shows bright red culms at times after they have come out of the earth in a lemon-yellow colour. Later the stalks get green stripes. With a size of about three to five meters, it does not necessarily belong to the giant bamboo category, but it is very decorative and also very hardy. However, this bamboo grows very vigorously and absolutely needs a rhizome barrier.
How do I create a rhizome barrier?
A rhizome barrier is only effective if you use the right material for it. Pond liner or a slightly larger flower pot are absolutely unsuitable, as these are not serious obstacles for the branches of your bamboo. It is better to use a special PEHD film that is approx. 2 mm thick. Dig a sufficiently large and at least 50 cm deep planting hole for your bamboo.
Depending on the size and growth height of your bamboo, it needs an area of at least 3 square meters (for a medium-sized bamboo) or 10 square meters (for a large bamboo), on which the plant can spread as it pleases.
Work the foil as a ring around your bamboo at least 60 cm deep into the ground. Close this ring carefully with a special aluminum splint to prevent rhizomes from growing outside. The foil should protrude about five to ten centimeters from the soil. This way you can control that the rhizomes cannot spread over it either.
The essentials in brief:
- Phyllostachys needs a rhizome barrier
- Fargesia do not need a rhizome barrier
- only use special HDPE film as a rhizome barrier
- Work the foil at least 60 cm into the ground
- Let the rhizome barrier stick out about 5 to 10 cm from the ground
- give the bamboo enough room to grow
- Close foil ring carefully with aluminum rail
tips
If you do not want to create a rhizome barrier, then choose a bamboo fargesia, these varieties do not form rhizomes. Chinese Wonder forms bright red culms.