Bamboo and Co. look beautiful, but can become very prolific. You can counteract the unwanted spread with a rhizome barrier.
There are some plants that root suckering so profusely that they quickly overgrow everything else. These include, for example, raspberries, blackberries, Chinese reed, ivy, mint, black and sea buckthorn, vinegar tree, bamboo, lily of the valley or horsetail. If you don't intervene early and keep the plants in check, then not only will your garden look very overgrown at some point, the plants just mentioned can also compete with the other plants for their habitat.
So that the proliferating plants do not spoil your mood and cause unnecessary work, it is advisable to install a rhizome barrier (also known as a root barrier). With the right equipment, this is not that difficult and can even be retrofitted in the garden.
You need this for installation
When it comes to installing a rhizome barrier, you always have to take into account the special features of the respective plant during implementation. Some plants, such as bamboo, form extremely strong rhizomes. In this case, you must also install an extremely strong root barrier so that you can actually stop the rhizomes.
In such a case, it is also best if you use a rhizome barrier made of HDPE (high-pressure polyethylene) that is at least two millimeters thick, as this cannot be penetrated by the plant's roots (e.g. available here). An alternative to this plastic could at most be concrete slabs, but the installation is of course a lot more difficult in this case. So it is best to use HDPE. On the other hand, you should do without materials such as a robust pond liner, as this would not last in the long run.
How to Install a Root Barrier
It is important that the barrier is as deep in the ground as possible so that the roots cannot grow underneath. A depth of around 60 cm is therefore recommended. However, it is just as important that you give the plant enough space in width, otherwise the stolons will grow deeperand then eventually get through under the root barrier. Now that you know that, do the following:
➥ Step 1:
Dig the hole for the plant 60 cm deep and then get hold of the root barrier.
➥ Step 2:
Connect the two ends of the rhizome barrier with the provided aluminum splint to form a ring with no gaps.
➥ Step 3:
Now insert the rhizome barrier vertically into the ditch and make sure that 5 to 10 cm protrude. This way no root runners can spread above.
➥ Step 4:
Then fill the gaps with the excavated soil and place the plant in the ring. Make sure that you don't plant the plant flush with the upper edge of the rhizome barrier, but about 10 cm deeper.
Install root lock later
Sometimes you place plants in the garden and don't think about installing a root barrier at the moment. Of course, you can also install the lock later. However, this involves a lot more effort.
➥ Step 1:
First you have to cut off any existing root suckers with a spade.
➥ Step 2:
After cutting, dig a ditch around the plant to set the barrier there.
➥ Step 3:
Then carefully connect the two ends of the rhizome barrier and then fill the soil back into the trench.