Bamboo does not believe in minimalist restraint in the garden. Many of its magnificent species and impressive varieties form strong offshoots, so-called rhizomes, which quickly overgrow large areas. A rhizome barrier curbs growth and prevents bamboo invasion in the garden. The root barrier also keeps Chinese reed and rampant shrubs in check. Read this guide to find out what to look out for when making a purchase. You can find out here how to install a rhizome barrier correctly and what alternatives there are.

A rhizome barrier is essential for bamboo

Table of Contents

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  1. the essentials in brief
  2. Buy rhizome barrier
  3. Install bamboo rhizome barrier
  4. Mason bucket rhizome barrier alternative
  5. Retrofit rhizome barrier
  6. Weedy plants need rhizome barriers
  7. Check the rhizome barrier regularly
  8. frequently asked Questions

    9. the essentials in brief

    • A rhizome barrier prevents stoloniferous plants from spreading invasively in the garden.
    • Rhizome barriers are made from 2mm thick HDPE polyethylene film to withstand root pressure from bamboo ground shoots.
    • Hobby gardeners can buy a rhizome barrier in specialist shops and install it themselves.

    Buy Rhizome Barrier - Tips on shopping sources and products

    Bamboo conquers its territory both above and below ground. The mighty stalks stretch up to 10 meters into the sky. Below the surface, huge horizontal rhizomes spread in all directions. To ensure that bamboo roots do not overgrow, you should buy a rhizome barrier before planting and install it as a stable root barrier. The following overview summarizes the product properties to be considered and where you can get top-quality rhizome barriers at a reasonable price:

    Rhizome barrier - fundamental product properties

    • properties: frost-hard, tear-resistant, UV-resistant, rodent-stable, pollutant-free, recyclable
    • material: High Density Polyethylene (HDPE), Metal (Galvanized)
    • Dimensions: from 70 cm wide and 2 mm thick
    • equipment: locking bar

    When measuring, please note that a rhizome barrier for bamboo must be installed at least 60-65 centimeters deep. Furthermore, the barrier should protrude by 5-10 centimetres. This is undoubtedly not particularly decorative, but strongly recommended. Root barriers that run flush to the garden soil effortlessly overcome the rhizomes.

    A rhizome barrier only serves its purpose if it is absolutely tight and ends slightly above the garden floor

    Shopping sources with price

    When buying a rhizome barrier for bamboo and comparable green powerhouses, the focus is on high-quality, stable quality. This stipulation does not imply that you have to dig deep for a rootblocker that works. The following overview lists cheap sources for buying root barriers of the best quality:

    • Mc-Bambus.de: Rhizome barrier made of HDPE film, 70 cm x 2 mm from EUR 7.50/m, 100 cm x 2 mm from EUR 10.50/m
    • Rhizomsperre.de: HDPE plastic webs, 70 cm x 2 mm, starting at EUR 14.90/m
    • Bambusbörse.de: HDPE root barrier, 70 cm x 2 mm at a price of EUR 66.90 for 10 m, EUR 114.90 for 20 m
    • Dehner: Polypropylene root barrier, 70 cm x 2 mm, priced at EUR 26.99 for 3 m, EUR 42.99 for 5 m
    • DIY store (Obi, Hagebau, Hornbach): Plastic root barrier, 70 cm x 2 mm from EUR 11.90/m

    Matching locking rails are available from 27 EUR/piece. The rails are made of weather-resistant aluminium. Included are stainless steel screws and washers for secure attachment.

    A rhizome barrier for bamboo made of metal - compared to plastic - represents a considerable investment. For this reason, standardized offers on the market are few and far between. Dimensions of 70 cm high, 2 mm thick and several meters long are considered custom-made, which translates into significantly higher prices. Ideally, contact a metalworking company in your area and request an individual offer.

    digression

    Rhizome barrier not obligatory for every bamboo

    There are numerous species and varieties within the bamboo family. Not all tend to grow expansive roots. For this reason, bamboo can be divided into 2 categories: Bamboo plants without runners with Fargesia in the name. Bamboo plants that form invasive roots and require rhizome barrier. The latter can overgrow an area of 20 m² and more within a few years without a root barrier. Typical representatives of these bamboo usurers have Phyllostachys in their names. Furthermore, the varieties of arrow bamboo are included with the botanical name Pseudosasa japonica.

    Install rhizome barrier for bamboo - instructions for beginners

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    The best time to plant bamboo is in early spring. Thus, an appointment from mid/end of March is ideal if you install a rhizome barrier before or at the same time. As soon as the ground has thoroughly thawed, you can start the installation. If you have missed the optimal time, plant the bamboo and rhizome barrier in the garden soil in autumn. Well-considered planning and the provision of the right tool set the course for the smooth running of the work. How to do it right:

    Planning, material and tool list

    The informed choice of location for a rhizome barrier bamboo depends on several factors. Sunny to semi-shady lighting conditions and fresh, slightly acidic and loose, well-drained soil guarantee healthy growth.

    An area of at least 2 meters in diameter gives a medium-sized solitary Phyllostachys bamboo enough root space. The rhizome barrier is sunk into the ground in an appropriate radius, from which the order quantity of the rolled goods can be calculated: 2 m diameter of the rhizome barrier results in a circumference of 6.3 m plus 20 cm for overlaps and 50 cm for waste. You can therefore buy 7 m of rhizome barrier with a width of 70 cm, 90 cm or 100 cm and one or two matching closure rails. The following work equipment should be available on the chosen day:

    • bamboo plant
    • Rhizome barrier and locking rails
    • spade
    • cutter
    • folding rule or measuring tape
    • Wooden sticks, string or similar marking material
    • working gloves

    Ideally, use a drainage spade. A spade with an unrolled shovel is also well suited for the excavation work.

    Install rhizome barrier - instructions

    The rhizome barrier must survive something

    Before installing a rhizome barrier, place the young bamboo in the container in a bucket of water. This allows the root ball to become saturated with moisture, which optimizes starting conditions after planting. How to properly install a rhizome barrier:

    1. Measure and mark the area around the planting pit
    2. First dig a furrow 10 cm deep along the marking
    3. remove Mark
    4. Dig a vertical trench 60-65 cm deep with a spade
    5. Remove sharp stones and old roots
    6. Insert a rhizome barrier into the trench with a 5-10 cm overhang
    7. Seal the beginning and end of the roll
    8. Fill in the trench and tamp the earth firmly
    9. Dig a planting pit in the middle of the island, pot and plant bamboo
    10. Important: the root disc of the bamboo is 10-15 lower than the upper edge of the root barrier

    When closing a rhizome barrier, act according to the motto: sewn twice is better. To do this, overlap the root barrier by 10 to 20 centimeters. Place an aluminum rail at the beginning and end of the track. This trick prevents roots from growing into the overlap.

    Masonry tub as a rhizome barrier alternative

    Masonry tubs are a cheap, simple variant of the rhizome barrier

    If you prefer to build a bamboo rhizome barrier yourself, the masonry tub has proven to be an excellent alternative. At least runner-forming dwarf bamboo can be put in its place in this way. In order for a tub to fulfill its function as a root barrier to your complete satisfaction, important details are important. The following instructions, suitable for beginners, explain which properties characterize the ideal mason's bucket and how the installation works perfectly:

    • Suitable mortar vat: from a height of 65 cm and a capacity of 90 l (can be bought at hardware stores)
    • Cut out the bottom with a cutter
    • Dig a pit for the bamboo
    • Insert the bottomless bucket so deep that the edge of the bucket is 5 cm above the bottom
    • Fill the masonry pot rhizome barrier halfway up with loose, nutrient-rich bamboo soil

    Please plant the potted, water-soaked dwarf bamboo so deep that its root disc is a few centimeters below the edge of the bucket. Press the substrate down with both hands and water generously. When deciding on a masonry tub as a rhizome barrier, please keep in mind that even the largest tubs do not offer enough root space for a majestic flat tube bamboo. For mini bamboo, raspberry or Chinese reed, on the other hand, a mortar vat acts as an optional alternative to expensive rhizome barriers made of HDPE plastic.

    Retrofitting a rhizome barrier - how does it work?

    As a young plant, bamboo uses cunning and few, seemingly harmless stalks to cover up the fact that it has a concentrated charge of growth power. Within a short time, the usurers strive to conquer the entire garden area. Then it is high time to rigorously curb growth. By retrofitting a rhizome barrier, you literally get to the root of the problem.

    If you want to remove overgrown, lignified bamboo rhizomes, you are on a losing battle with a hoe, spade and axe. Rent a mini excavator to dig a 90-100 centimeter deep trench around the bamboo stand. In advanced growth, a depth of 70 centimeters is usually no longer sufficient for a functioning rhizome barrier. Flatten the pit walls by removing rocks and cutting off old roots. Sink the root barrier into the ground as detailed in the instructions above.

    Rhizomes located outside the root barrier are severed by the excavator. Of course, this does not mean the end of growth. In the following weeks, fresh stalks will happily sprout, which you should cut off consistently. It takes an average of 2 to 3 years for severed rhizomes to finally capitulate and stop growing.

    tips

    Are you looking for a bamboo without a rhizome barrier for the front garden or as a privacy screen? Then Red Bamboo 'Chinese Wonder' is an excellent choice. As the botanical name Fargesia nitida suggests, the spectacular variety is one of the clump-forming bamboo species that do not grow invasive roots.

    Rhizome barrier mandatory - notorious usurers at a glance

    If flat-tube bamboo is not contained, it will soon spring up everywhere

    Coliferous bamboo species are not the only aspirants for a rhizome barrier. Mother Nature has produced other plants that are a major headache in the garden with massive root spread. The following table names notorious usurers that you should always plant with a rhizome barrier:

    Surname botanical name known varieties
    flat tube bamboo Phyllostachys black bamboo, giant bamboo
    arrow bamboo Pseudosasa japonica japanese arrow bamboo
    Dwarf Bamboo Pleioblastus pygmaeus Disticus, Pumilus
    vinegar tree Rhus typhina Dissecta, Fern Frond, Stag Butt Sumac
    Giant Chinese reed Miscanthus giganteus Aksel Olsen
    Chinese reed Miscanthus sinensis Silver Feather, Malepartus
    raspberry Rubus idaeus Polka, Prussia II
    sea buckthorn Hippophae rhamnoides Pollmix, Leikora

    Pampas grass is not a candidate for a rhizome barrier. The popular ornamental grass is in fact becoming unpopular with vehement spread in the garden. However, the invasion is due to rampant self-seeding. A pampas grass sends myriads of seeds on their journey. You can put a stop to this brazen venture by cutting flowering spikes in good time before the feathery seeds form.

    Check the rhizome barrier regularly

    The best rhizome barrier is no guarantee that bamboo or giant Chinese reed will escape sooner or later. Expert installation is therefore not enough if you want to keep the upper hand in your garden. At least once a year, please make a meticulous on-site inspection on your schedule.

    Armed with spade, scissors or axe, cut off any stolon that ventures beyond the root barrier. The earlier you put a stop to the breakout attempt, the less effort is required. As a precaution, we recommend keeping the inner edge of a rhizome barrier 20 to 30 centimeters wide free of runners.

    frequently asked Questions

    What is a rhizome lock?

    Numerous invasive plants spread in the garden through a predominantly horizontal growth of strong shoots, also called rhizomes. These include various types of bamboo as well as giant Chinese reeds, raspberry bushes or the vinegar tree. A rhizome barrier limits root growth to a defined area and prevents unbridled spread.

    Where can you buy rhizome locks?

    In order for a rhizome barrier to keep bamboo in check, it needs to be of high, stable quality. Only high-pressure polyethylene (HDPE) with a thickness of at least 2 millimeters is able to withstand the massive root pressure. Best shopping sources for premium rhizome locks are local specialty stores and competent online shops. What is sometimes offered in the hardware store as a rhizome barrier for bamboo or giant Chinese reed often gives the gardener a headache afterwards. Weed fleece (€21.70) or pond liner are not suitable for withstanding the enormous pressure of the rhizomes in the long term.

    How deep do I have to install a rhizome barrier for bamboo?

    A root barrier should be at least 60cm deep

    You can buy rhizome barriers in proven quality as broadlooms with a height of 70 cm. There's a good reason for that. You should install a root barrier to a depth of at least 60-65 cm. A height of at least 5-10 cm above the ground is obligatory so that rhizomes of bamboo, Chinese reed or other weeds do not simply overcome the barrier above ground.

    Can I retrofit the giant Chinese reed rhizome barrier?

    Subsequent installation of a rhizome barrier is possible, but of course involves a lot of work. First, all roots and rhizomes must be severed and dug up at the appropriate distance. This is exhausting, because very woody foothills can hardly be divided even with an axe. Then dig a 60-65 centimeter deep ditch around the giant Chinese reed. Insert the rhizome barrier in such a way that at the end 5-10 centimeters protrude from the ground. The ends of the track should overlap by 10-20 centimeters and are connected with one or two aluminum rails. Finally, fill in the ditch again.

    How much planting area should the rhizome barrier enclose for a Phyllostachys green cane bamboo?

    The following calculation has proven itself as a rule of thumb in hobby gardens: Half of the expected end height corresponds to the diameter of a rhizome barrier for bamboo. Based on a green cane bamboo with a final height of 5 m, you should install a rhizome barrier with a diameter of 2.50 m. This root space is sufficient for at least the first 10 years in a Central European garden.

    We are planning a bamboo hedge as a privacy screen. What should be considered when installing a rhizome barrier?

    For a bamboo hedge, don't put rhizome barriers around each individual plant. Rather, the root barrier encompasses the entire hedge. Since the bamboo plants can spread sideways within a hedge, the width can be slightly narrower at 80 to 100 centimeters.

    We would like to plant a bamboo grove as a demarcation to the neighboring property. How can we prevent the roots from growing over to the neighbor?

    First ask the responsible regulatory office about the prescribed distance to the neighboring property. At this distance you can install a rhizome barrier made of stable HDPE foil with a thickness of 2 mm and a depth of 70 to 100 cm. Plant the bamboo hedge at a distance of at least 50 centimeters from the root barrier. Please note that the rhizomes grow along the root barrier. This harbors the risk that the foothills at both ends can expand into the neighboring property. Therefore, lead the rhizome foil back 2 to 3 meters to your property at each end of the hedge. In addition, check at least once a year whether the rhizomes remain behind the barrier.

    We had to subsequently install a rhizome barrier on our flat tube bamboo. Now we stand in front of a mountain of truncated foothills. Where to put it?

    Whether cut off, stabbed or dredged. Bamboo rhizomes don't think twice about stopping growth once the connection to the mother plant has been severed. For this reason, please dispose of the leftover roots in the garbage can.If space is limited, transport the rhizomes to your local landfill or compost facility. The compost heap carries the risk that you will involuntarily spread viable root remains with the natural fertilizer in the garden.

    tips

    Cutting back its stalks does not curb the urge to spread of flat tube bamboo. When concerned gardeners forcefully cut an invasive bamboo, the ornamental grass responds by increasing the growth of its underground rhizomes to compensate for the loss above ground. A combination of rhizome blocking and occasional pruning keeps growth in check.

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Garden design