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Rhizome Barrier Installation Instructions

Begin by digging a narrow, exactly vertical, trench around the perimeter of the area in which you wish to keep the bamboo contained. If using 24" polyethylene rhizome barrier, the trench will need to be 22” deep; for 30” barrier, the trench should be 28” deep, etc. There should be 2” of the barrier remaining above ground, so that if rhizomes come up to the surface near the barrier you can easily see them and cut them before they hop over the barrier. (Bamboo rhizomes sometimes come to the surface and then dive back down again. We recommend that you check around the barrier 2-3 times a year, clear any leaf-litter build-up along the inside edge of your barrier so the rhizomes don't have soil to help them grow over the top, and cut off any rhizomes that have come up out of the ground near the barrier.

Insert the barrier into the trench, making sure it remains vertical (no angling in or out). Be sure to overlap the barrier at least 4 feet where the two ends meet (or at any seam), and place two strips of our special double-sided tape vertically within the overlapped area. This will create a seal and prevent the rhizomes from escaping through the seam. If you do not use the tape, overlap 5-6 feet and be sure there is no soil in between the overlapped layers. Replace the soil in the original order (subsoil, then topsoil) and pack tightly along the barrier.

We have found that this high-density polyethylene barrier works better than cement, which frequently cracks and has a rough surface, on which the rhizomes can get a purchase and break through. Sheet metal requires several seams and also rusts, leaving the way open for bamboo "escapees.”

In most situations, The 24” or 30” polyethylene barriers are more than adequate to contain most bamboos. But when planting on very steep slopes or planting very large giant timber varieties in soft, sandy soil, it may be necessary to use a 36” barrier. Please see Clumping and Running Bamboo for more informaton. Check with our staff for specific recommendations based on species and conditions.

If you have questions, please feel free to call us. May you and your bamboo flourish!