SECURITY ALERT- 60 Mil. Barrier breached!

BooKing · Post by **BooKing** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 11:05 pm

After 4 years my 60 mil rhizome barrier was cracked by Semiarundinaria fastuosa. The area is 8by8 feet. The crack occured within the top 5inches of barrier. It appears that a group of culms [5] in one specific area caused the damage. This was Not near the seam which is stainless steel. The barrier was tilted slightly outward as suggested.
I had to clean out the area around the breach by removing nearby culms and rhizomes. There were very few roots on each culm. So much for the false sense of security with the barrier....And it was bought from a well respected company.

Mike McG · Post by **Mike McG** » Wed Mar 15, 2006 12:55 am

Mr Booking,

I recall Kentuck posting some pictures of a breach in his barrier a couple of years ago on GW. I think it was either Ph. nigra or 'Henon', probably 'Henon'. I guess a thicker or tougher barrier is needed, or perhaps more slope. Any pictures of the culm density and of the breach?

Mike near Breham TX

BooKing · Post by **BooKing** » Wed Mar 15, 2006 1:40 am

I remember Kentuck's pics and post. The culms in my grove were less than 1/2in diameter. They were clustered at one point where the break occurred.
The slope should have been more outward I think.I might have to use my sawzall all around the perimeter to keep them away from bunching up around the barrier. I also see another potential problem around the area.
I'll take some pics tomorrow of what's left. I should have taken a pic first, but I was

and had to take care of the offenders....

CadyG · Post by **CadyG** » Wed Mar 15, 2006 8:50 pm

Zounds. You might have to trench around the grove. I have S. fastuosa near the house. Now I'm gonna watch to see if it gets through the ultra-thick fieldstone foundation.

Oregonbamboo · Post by **Oregonbamboo** » Wed Mar 15, 2006 10:21 pm

I still haven't figured out why people think barriers are the final solution to containment. You still have to carefully rhizome prune and remove "redirected" rhizomes each year to keep things in check. We wait until a new shoot comes up along the edge and leafs out. It's easy to follow the trails back and remove what's needed. It's also a great way to get new divisions each year.

I've heard over the years that fastuosa runs deep anyway and can't really be safely contained. Is that not true?

boonatick · Post by **boonatick** » Thu Mar 16, 2006 4:53 am

S fastuosa dives very deep and surfaces ,like a wave , the culms can start very near the surface or way down there,, ya never know

BooKing · Post by **BooKing** » Fri Mar 17, 2006 12:17 am

Adam,

Who thinks barriers are the final solution?

Oregonbamboo · Post by **Oregonbamboo** » Fri Mar 17, 2006 12:40 am

BooKing wrote:Adam,

Who thinks barriers are the final solution?

The general public has a misconception about it. That's been my perception based on e-mails, talking on the phone and showing folks my garden the last couple of years. I have a lot of folks buying our bamboo divisions locally.

BooKing · Post by **BooKing** » Fri Mar 17, 2006 3:12 am

I agree Oregon bamboo.

BooKing · Post by **BooKing** » Fri Mar 17, 2006 3:17 am

Boonatick,

Your right, While looking to keep the rest of the fastuosa in check I found a rhizome over 2 1/2 feet down in the hard clay. The top 1 foot of soil is compost, cow manure, and overall a 5-course meal for the bamboo. Why it decided to go down to the hard clay is a

which I may never understand. It looks like the fastuosa has a plan of it's own.

CadyG · Post by **CadyG** » Fri Mar 17, 2006 9:50 pm

I will monitor it to see if it goes down below the raised bed, under the hot top driveway's compacted base, and into the neighbor's lawn. If it can, I'm calling Ripley's. No joke.

Oregonbamboo · Post by **Oregonbamboo** » Fri Mar 17, 2006 10:11 pm

We have fastuosa in a pot for display purposes only. I have trouble enough with the others for me to fight any deep runner. I'd love to have an area large enough for it to colonize since it is so beautiful but we're just out of room for it. Funny thing is that even in a big pot it looks fantastic.

Mike McG · Post by **Mike McG** » Fri Mar 17, 2006 11:13 pm

And then there is the well behaved type of S. fastuosa that Mike in Marietta grows. Who knows how deep his rhizomes are?

From the images section:
<img src="http://www.bambooweb.info/images/bamboo ... saa905.jpg" alt="SEMIARUNDINARIA fastuosa ">

Mike near Brenham TX

kstanwick · Post by **kstanwick** » Sat Mar 18, 2006 12:13 am

To me that pic looks like it is a clumper. wouldn't it be nice to have a runner perform like that. That is S. fastuosa?? for sure??

Iowaboo · Post by **Iowaboo** » Sat Mar 18, 2006 12:43 am

Indeed that is fastousa that Mike in Marietta has clumpered. Amazing what one can do if they want to churn a running bamboo into something entirely different.

But Mike is a professional. Don't try this at home.

SECURITY ALERT- 60 Mil. Barrier breached!

SECURITY ALERT- 60 Mil. Barrier breached!

barrier breach

S. fastuosa

pic