Dependable HDPE rhizome barrier for homeowners, contractors, and municipalities — sized for any containment project on your agenda.
Bamboo barrier (also known as rhizome barrier) is a high-density polyethylene plastic used as a physical barrier to block bamboo roots — rhizomes — from growing in a specific direction. Rhizomes are important to contain because they can damage surrounding landscapes and hardscapes.
Left uncontrolled, those roots will travel well beyond the parent plant and undermine patios, foundations, and neighboring plantings.
We offer a comprehensive selection of HDPE rhizome barrier to suit any bamboo control application. With material heights ranging from 18" all the way to 48", and thicknesses from 30 mil to 80 mil, we can equip you for virtually any bamboo containment project on your agenda.
Many homeowners plant bamboo and want to keep it contained to their own property — or to one section of it. We're glad to help you make the right barrier selection for your project. If you're a homeowner with questions about an upcoming installation, get in touch.
We supply rhizome barrier to contractors and municipalities across the United States. We offer volume pricing for large projects and can provide a custom written quote for your material.
Removing canes and shoots above ground does not stunt bamboo's growth — the real growth happens beneath the surface. One technique is to dig a trench around the plant so rhizomes can be spotted and clipped before "jumping" it. That works only if the trench is deeper than the roots and you're in the garden daily, and bamboo can outpace even the most meticulous gardener.
Open trenches are also impractical for most landscapes: they're unsightly, they fill with water, and they create trip-and-fall hazards. A far more effective option is to install a bamboo barrier — constructed of HDPE, typically 18" to 48" tall, with a recommended thickness of 60 mil to adequately stop roots. For most applications a height of 24"–36" is recommended. It ships in 100-foot rolls and cuts to length with a standard utility knife.
Measure the existing roots. Dig near the bamboo to find how deep the roots extend. Choose a barrier roughly 12" deeper than that depth — if roots reach 18", choose a 30" barrier. The extra depth stops roots that try to angle downward around the barrier.
Dig the trench. Trench around the planting area to a depth 2" less than the barrier height. For a 30" barrier, dig 28" — leaving 2" of material above grade.
Set the height advantage. That exposed 2" forces any rhizome inclined to "jump" the barrier to surface up and over it, giving you a clear visual to clip it before it spreads.
Place and seam the material. Cut to length, set the barrier in the trench, and overlap 4 feet at the seam to form a complete circle. Secure the two pieces with HDPE seam tape.
Backfill. Fill the trench back in around the material. With the bamboo now enclosed — and roots trimmed properly — it will stay in its designated area.
Answer a few quick questions and our barrier selector will help you choose the right height and thickness.
Bamboo is a fascinating plant with over 1,400 species — though many people think there are only two: runners and clumpers. Running bamboos have long stems that quickly spread horizontally on perfectly round, ridged, hollow culms. Clumping bamboos have shorter stems that stay closer to their source and spread far more slowly.
The stems are straight and circular, grow above ground, and have nodes that lend strength. Each node has two rings: the lower sheath ring forms after the sheath leaf falls off, and the upper stem ring forms once the intranodal tissue finishes growing.
No two species are exactly alike — some stems are hollow and form cavities, while others have thick walls.
Most ornamental bamboo is a runner, sending out roots that search for moisture underground. For added privacy it quickly covers fences and gives the landscape a lush look, and it's easy to find in nurseries because it propagates well.
A word of caution on runners: in the first year they sleep, the second year they creep, and the third year they leap. Running bamboo is invasive and, especially in dry, warm climates, it will hunt out water through vegetable gardens, herb beds, and a neighbor's manicured lawn.
An extraordinary variety reaching 20–30 feet. Rich in color, with stems rarely thicker than an inch — prized for its long, straight, elegant canes.
Named for the poles Samurai used for arrows. A restrained runner with wide green leaves, ideal for shady privacy screens at 12–16 feet. Needs plenty of water.
An enormous timber bamboo reaching 20–50 feet. Magnificent with adequate space, but give it 8–10 feet of spread and a deep root barrier — it tears through most boundaries.
Famous for near-black canes that deepen with age against bright green leaves. Hardy in USDA zones 7–10, reaching 20–30 feet. Excellent harvested for furniture and fencing.
One of the few bamboos grown as ground cover. Bright yellow-and-green striped leaves on pencil-thin stems, 2–3 feet tall — compact and easier to contain, but still a runner.
Gardeners are always hunting good clumping specimens. In general, clumpers are pricier than runners and harder to find — your local nursery may not stock them or even recognize the term. They form tight circular clumps that enlarge only a few inches a year.
A gorgeous clumper with powdery blue stems, native to the mountains of southern China. It prefers cooler climates, grows beautifully around ponds, and does well in containers — but not in hot, humid areas.
The most popular clumper in the U.S. Native to Taiwan, it loves warm tropical climates and can reach 60 feet. A favorite for privacy, building material, and even edible young shoots.
Slender stalks and wispy, cascading leaves. Compact and pot-friendly, native to northern Mexico, 10–15 feet tall and cold-hardy down to 20°F.
Named for its bulbous inner nodes, sometimes growing in a zigzag. A large, easily recognized ornamental clumper that prefers warm climates and can reach 30+ feet.
Exquisite green-and-yellow striped canes, perfect as a privacy screen at ~20 feet. A slow grower happiest in warm climates (USDA zone 7–8 and up).
If you want aggressively spreading bamboo for a privacy hedge — or one of the enormous timber varieties — but you live in a neighborhood rather than the country, a continuous underground barrier is fundamental. Never underestimate a healthy bamboo plant: it is a force of nature, and every variety shares one goal — to spread out. Even in a bucket or pot, roots will find any crack or drain hole to escape.
Their underground stems seek out water with uncanny ability, especially in dry climates like Arizona or California. If a neighbor runs drip irrigation or sprinklers, your bamboo will likely send runners toward that source. You can't simply pull sprouts like weeds — clearing established bamboo can take a backhoe. Plan ahead and install a barrier, or you'll face serious maintenance once or twice a year.
Decide which variety fits your space and your goal. Want fast privacy? A runner. Something decorative and compact? A clumper. Growing canes for a future project? Read up on each plant's light, water, and spacing needs before you commit — and if you have several goals, plant a mix and create something spectacular.
Whatever you choose, install a bamboo barrier to protect your landscape from overgrowth and the spread of rhizomes. Then sit back and enjoy the view — a living privacy wall, and the gentle sound of a breeze moving through the canes.
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