General concensus on liners?

[John G.]

Ive read a few posts here that state "make sure you put in a barrier". Is the rhizome pruning and or trenching method no good? I would think if your able to rhizome prune it would be superior than a barrier in that when you put in a barrier the rhizomes end up pushing further deeper into the soil, turn back into the grove making the mat of rhizomes even thicker (which I have seen especially along the edges of the barrier). I can understand the absolute need of a barrier if planting next to a property line. I just wanted others opinions on control methods.

I have 2 plants that have been in the ground for exactly 1yr today (vivax and vivax "Aureocaulis" planted together). I have trenched a 30' x 50' area and I can feel large rhizomes under foot 15' away from the main plant. So I still have time to put in a barrier if needed.

Also, if you mulch each year adding matter to the ground don't most bamboo's put newer rhizomes on the top as apposed to digging deeper?

[BooKing]

John if I had your property size I would not put in a barrier and I would just rhizome prune. With the confined space I have here {.24acre} and the large amount {over 500}of unusual trees I have, I am extremely limited with space. If I had a month's worth of rhizomes spread into one of my tree areas, the trees would be in peril. If I just had the majority of my landscape in bamboo I would not use barrier and just rely on rhizome pruning. This would mean the bamboos woudn't run so deep as they do in a confined barrier space. When the rhizomes hit my barrier, they go deeper and some just go right under{30 inches+Vivax aureocaulis}. This is a problem with the barrier system whereas if there were no barrier system they would just stay in the top foot of soil instead of running deep. Just my experience here, in other climates it may differ.

[bambooweb]

John
I think that barriers give people a false sense of security and they might not think that they still need to rhizome prune. I do like James Clever's idea that when you put in a barrier put a foot wide and deep section of mulch inside the barrier and twice a year remove all rhizomes that make it into this area. You can also use that rhizome trap without the barrier but you might have to clean it out more often.

I grow most of my bamboos on raised beds and I can see most rhizomes as they poke out the sides I still rhizome prune around the perimeter but most rhizomes are in the raised mound / mulch area.

Bill

[John G.]

Thank's for the replies. I will just stick with my proposed methods then and not worry about it. Booking I am still amazed at how you are able to get so much in such a small area and not have it look overly crowded. Are most of your Acer's and conifers dwarf varieties?

[Bamboomoon]

I never heard of James Clever's idea until this post, but did exactly that around a 75 by 15 foot Nigra grove. After putting in the barrier, I filled up the outside 2 feet with composted grass clippings, I have thought (many times over the past year) that I might have made a huge mistake doing that. I reasoned that the rhizomes would love the nitrogen rich mulch, and go wild in there. Which was what happened. I"'ve pulled 4 7-9 foot rhizomes out of there in the past week. But it was very easy to do, because the compost was so loose and airy. So far, so good. I'm still root pruning, but inside the barrier ...

I find myself concerned about a Vivax I have in the ground, so I think I will sell it before it gets so huge, that it has a chance to terrify me. For me it's getting easier to be tough about pruning runaway rhizomes every succeeding year, because every year there is more work to do if I don't stay tough.

Another angle for me has been to absolutely stop watering when I am happy with the size of the grove, toward the middle of the shooting season. In the northwest (with the dry summers we have), I think this is a restraining method particularly handy to us. I reckon any water I give the plants in August and September, will only be going to feed the rhizome growth anyway. I watch the plants for leaf curl of course, but they are like camels in their ability to withstand long droughts. I even wonder sometimes if the culms might not be harder and more upright when treated this way.

My respect (and fear) of the tenacity of these plants and their ability to continually territorialize almost any area, grows. But even with root pruning, it seems to me the mother plant begins to figure out how to send rhizomes deeper when shallow doesn't cut it. I guess it's all about survival for the plant; for me it's a matter of restraining my natural tendency to go all out when I'm into something.

[BooKing]

John, in answer to your question-most are miniature and dwarfs HOWEVER, I also have large Giant Sequoias, Algerian Fir,South African Fir,
Greek Fir, Sicilian Fir,China Fir,Cryptomerias, Golden Dawn Redwoods, and alot more "large" trees. Most of the maples are dwarfs or medium size trees. It is a challenge to say the least as my paths are only a little over 2 feet wide winding around the landscape.Barely enough for a wheelbarrow. No turf grass allowed, only bamboos and Japanese forest grasses and mondo grasses.
I do judicious pruning though 2X a year.

There is another collector/friend by me that has over 1000 trees on less than 1/2 an acre including the largest European beech collection{over 100 different cultivars} in the U.S and 500 acers. His place takes a few days to
look and still you'll only see 2/3 of his trees. Major pruning though is done throughout the year by a team of professionals.

[mantis]

With the confined space I have here {.24acre} and the large amount {over 500}of unusual trees I have, I am extremely limited with space.

Wow! Now I have something to aspire towards. I was thinking that my yard would be full with 15 or so bamboo clumps, but I guess I have plenty of room for more.

In fact, you have inspired me so much that I made a web page just for you
http://BooKing.YouAreMighty.com/

[BooKing]

Thanks, that is too funny. One day when I can't take care of all the plants here they'll invade my neighbors and then I'll really be infamous. They'll be cursing me forever

[mantis]

Thanks, that is too funny. One day when I can't take care of all the plants here they'll invade my neighbors and then I'll really be infamous. They'll be cursing me forever

Actually, just put any name in there and it works

There is also:

http://Booking.DoYouHaveEpilepsy.com
http://BooKing.JustGotOwned.com


I know there are a couple others, but I can't remember them off the top of my head.

edit: Here is the website that they all stem from:

http://www.aninote.com/

[mito0]

woo! that's awesome! i can't wait to use those.

[BooKing]

John I posted a few photos in the photo section in other than bamboos part.

[John G.]

Looks fantastic and full Booking. If I ever make it out your way I would love to see your yard first hand.

[BooKing]

Just be sure and bring a machete... I am actually going to do some thinning soon and donate a few dozen trees to a memorial garden.

[Jonathan Poston]

BooKing, your garden looks spectacular.
Absolutely beautiful.
Do you know the dimensions?
.24 of an acre doesn't mean much to me I am afraid, what is it in feet?
Cheers

[John G.]

An acre I believe is 43560sf so .24 would be 10,454 /-sf.