I am growing running bamboo and I want to know how much it will grow by next year.?

Question

I planted a 1 gallon Phyllostachys edulus(moso), and 1 gallon Phyllostachys vivax bamboo in May, and I'm seeing a few new shoots, all between 1-4 feet tall anywhere from 1/8in to 2/5in in diameter. Theres 6 new shoots on the moso, and 1 new shoot on the vivax.

How much growth as far as rhizome spread,number of new shoots, culm diameter, and height should I expect to see next spring?

I don't have any rhizome barrier on either yet because I don't know how well the plants spread in zone 6.

Answer 1

a lot, u will not be able to ever kill ths , it will spread everywhere.

Answer 2

Each year the plant will spread more and more.....no seriously,  first year no spread, second a foot, third 3 feet, fourth 6 feet...........don't trust these plants. (numbers are not actual numbers, just an example how these plants spread!!)  They spread quickly and can send their rhizomes deep into the ground, so get that barrier up NOW and make it a good 3 better 4 feet deep.

Answer 3

Bamboo is beautiful!!  I have some P. mannii (decora) I planted a year ago as a screen.  I planted it in raised beds to contain it.  It is now about ten feet high and nearly a solid screen.  It WILL spread hectically!  Where did you plant it?  It can cause a problem if it grows into a neighbors lawn or garden so if you don't have a barrier be careful where you plant it.  If I recall correctly the particular varieties you've planted are large and will spread rhizomes as far as thirty feet.    A trench full of water will prevent the spread, as will a road.  My raised beds are two and a half feet high and I recently noticed a culm coming out from underneath it. I'm in Las Vegas and it grows well here as long as it gets water.  you can kill it if you keep it mowed down to the ground but this process takes several years and you can't let even one culm survive as it will provide photosynthesis for the remaining rhizomes to continue spreading in it's never-ending search for light.  if it's in the middle of a lawn you can mow around it.  Otherwise, contain it.  Do it NOW.  Good luck!