Originally Posted by boatin

i bought something called bamboo barrier from the local bamboo nursery. It's really thick plastic that came in a big roll, and it's 28" or 32" deep. Bamboo roots don't go deeper than that. You dig a hole, and line the hole with the barrier. You circle the hole with the barrier, and connect the two ends with a metal strip on each side that is screwed together.

Not sure if that is a good description, but I put it in 5 years ago, and it works a treat. The trick is to leave 2 inches or so out of the ground, and to put the level of the bamboo a couple of inches below the ground. So that you've got 4 inches between the topsoil and the top of hte barrier.

As the bamboo grows within the barrier, the roots will displace the dirt and the top of the soil will rise. If you don't check it yearly, roots WILL go over the top of the barrier, particularly if you let leaves accumulate and create a ground layer. But if you check it every couple of months, you're fine.

I've got bamboo running 30 feet on each side of my property, and have for 5 years with no troubles. But it's not a plant for the person that likes zero maintenance!

Check to see if there is a bamboo grower/nursery in your area - they can probably treat you right. Good luck!