Controlling running bamboos
From TejasTropicals Articles
Many gardeners are afraid of utilizing running bamboo in their landscapes. They have seen groves that are overgrown and running out of control. The obvious advantages of running bamboo, well spaced culms, cold hardiness, culm and foliage colors, and grove beauty are lost in the unsightliness of an uncontrolled grove. There are some relatively easy steps to preventing this and enjoying a well kept bamboo grove.
This technique for controlling the grove I refer to as the "trench method". You first determine the total space you want your grove to occupy. You then dig a trench 8-12 inches wide and 18-24 inches deep around the perimeter of the space. After completing the trench fill it with a coarse bark mulch. The idea behind this is that rhizomes take the path of least resistance. During their seasonal growth spurts the rhizomes enter the trench and following the least resistance, grow in circles around the trench. Twice per year, early summer and late fall, I plunge a hook into the trench and pull up the long rhizomes out of the trench and cut them off.
The reason I prefer this method to barriers is that it prevents rhizomes from building up inside the barrier to the point of choking out the grove. It provides a nice visual perimeter for the grove using the bark mulch.
A modification of this is to use barrier on any sides you can’t gain access to perform trench maintenance, as example a fenceline, and use trenches on the sides you have access to.
I hope this control technique opens up the possibilities of using this wonderful landscape plant to more gardeners.