I installed a multch trench yesterday for rhizome control

utahraptor · Post by **utahraptor** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 8:08 pm

I was originally going to rent a trencher and install the 30 inch barrier stuff, but I changed my mind and did the mulch trench so I can just keep an eye on it as they try to escape.

oZmonKey · Post by **oZmonKey** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 8:18 pm

Nice looking dirt.
There's nothing but small boulders and clay under the ground around here.

stevelau1911 · Post by **stevelau1911** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 9:02 pm

My only concern is that it can run under those slabs of stone. Those look pretty solid so it probably won't pierce through them, but the rhizomes can potentially keep running and come up on the other side, especially for spectabilis unless you want the rhizomes under there.

Alan_L · Post by **Alan_L** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 9:37 pm

That *is* nice-looking soil! I'd also be concerned about it running under the slab and coming out of the sides.

utahraptor · Post by **utahraptor** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 9:52 pm

It was kind of a balance between preventing growth under the slab and possibly causing parts of the slab to sag and crack.

bamboothew · Post by **bamboothew** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 10:36 pm

That really is great looking soil: the only place I have soil anything like that is in pots

Btw in Atlanta, GA I saw some pretty impressive bamboo contained in areas about that size. Very neat-looking once it matures.

pokenei · Post by **pokenei** » Wed Apr 25, 2012 11:45 pm

Very nice trench. I want to do that...may I should one day, but I am putting that off for now since my bamboos are still small and insignificant. And there's no place close by where I can legally dump my excess dirt.

Alan_L · Post by **Alan_L** » Thu Apr 26, 2012 12:13 am

Even a small bamboo can send rhizomes into your lawn. Maybe not in your climate though -- they may spread pretty slowly.

As for getting rid of soil, it seems there's always somebody looking for free soil. It's also surprising how you can spread a big pile of soil over your yard and not notice it at all.

utahraptor · Post by **utahraptor** » Thu Apr 26, 2012 12:35 am

I had three people ask for it the day I did the work. I gave it to my dad who helped me dig the trenches.

As for the rate of spread, that tiny one gallon atrovaginata sent two 5 foot rhizomes where they should not have been and I just planted it sometime last summer.

zxylene · Post by **zxylene** » Thu Apr 26, 2012 1:04 am

I think a good spot for the excess dirt is to dump in into the area of boo being trenched or other boo which will slightly raise their bed. Also I think it would be easier and a much slicker rhizome cutting experience if you filled the trench with sand and then topped with mulch. Just some Ideas maybe the boos will hit the sand and then try and dive under it. I doubt it and hope not because this is how I have most of my trenches.

dependable · Post by **dependable** » Thu Apr 26, 2012 1:06 am

Looks good. If you miss a year or a rhizome,it will grow into the lawn. And when you see the shoots in your lawn, you might think that bamboo would look great there as well. Then chain trench in a 2 ft or deeper barrier where you really don't want it to grow.

As too whether it will be a problem with the patio, it could be, depending on how patio was installed.

utahraptor · Post by **utahraptor** » Mon Jun 11, 2012 12:15 am

It looks as if there has been some spread in the last month or so. I will keep monitoring it.

sully0family · Post by **sully0family** » Mon Jun 11, 2012 1:52 am

When I read your post back in April, I thought that could be my solution to my future rhizome pruning . After seeing your post today I'm sure that's the way I will go. I can always use extra loam and I can get free mulch from the city. I'm thinking it has to be easy to remove from the trench to make it easier, and the last thing I want to do is put in a barrier.