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Source for quality but inexpensive Bamboo barrier

8 years ago

I think I have asked and posted this question in the past. I have seen that "Lewis bamboo" has what I am guessing are good prices for them. I would like to know with Phyllostachys Atrovaginata, will I need 60 or 80 mil thick barrier, and will I need 24" or 30" deep barrier? I also see that they have "barrier clamps, I am sure they are neccesary, right? Well, Does someone out there know of a cheaper, but quality product source for the barriers mentioned? I haven't checked Ebay, but I hope someone could tell me if I need the 80 mil thick. and if I'll need the 24" or the 30" deep barriers?

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Comments (3)

User
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
I looked all over and couldn't find anything cheaper than the $1.99 a foot. That's a pretty good price. However I wonder where these guys buy them wholesale and how much you'd have to buy to get wholesale price. I wish I could find out their supplier. Bet you have to buy a ton though.

Well they say the timber bamboo should have 80 mil which is 30". And we've already seen someone on here have a failure at 60 mil. Doesn't sound like it fails to often at 24" and 60 mil though. But if you want total peace of mind I guess go 80 mil.

But the 80 mil really adds up in price. And geez it's already way to a pain digging 24" trenches as it is. No way I want to go deeper to 30". So for cost and my back, I just did all 24" and 60 mil. With that said I've never tested it yet since all my barrier is still far off from my bamboo. It hasn't even grown that far yet.

Maybe someone else has some better experiences for you. I'm going to hope for the best on mine.

Oh and do not ever go less than 60 mil. There is cheaper stuff that is thinner but it will crack in the freeze of winter.
kudzu9
8 years ago
I've never used anything thicker than 60 mil and have never had a failure. I also have never found a rhizome deeper than 12"-14", and usually much shallower, so I have never trenched deeper than about 20", with about 2" sticking up above the ground surface. I also have never used clamps; I just overlap the ends by about a foot and call it good. And think about it: if you have a rhizome that somehow escapes, so what? You dig it out all the way back to the barrier and snip it off. It's not like an escaped rhizome will destroy your yard or eat your house or your chihuahua.

Without barrier you can have a network of rhizomes radiating out in all directions and it's a pain to keep cleaning those up. However, one stray rhizome -- if it ever happens -- is not a big deal.

As for cost, the best deal may depend on shipping costs to your location. What state do you live in?
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poaky1
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks guys, I am in Pa SW Pa, about 30 miles from Morgantown Wv, and maybe 50-60 miles from Pittsburgh. We (as far as I know) don't have any nurseries that sell the stuff. I dug up my Phyll. Atrovag. and planted it in a huge tire. I got freaked out with it in the yard, until I get barrier in place, I will leave it there. I know I have time before it spreads, but when I saw my Fargesia spread about 7 ft from the mother plant, I figured "Better get that barrier in before adding the Phyll. Atrov. Poaky1

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