Hi everyone, I have some beautiful Phyllostachys aureosulcata cv spectabilis that I am looking to plant in our backyard for an eventual hedge. I know it is a running plant, so I've purchased enough heavy bamboo barrier to completely encircle the hedge to a depth of approximately two feet. I've just determined that some of our utilities run underneath a portion of the future hedge at a depth of about two feet. Presumably, these utilities (electric, phone and cable) are well encased given their burial. Anyway, do you think that I have anything to worry about? Will the rhizomes even get that deep? Will they voraciously devour the wires? Any thoughts are appreciated.
I doubt that the wires would be damaged, but it could make getting at them very difficult if they ever need to be renewed
Hi To use the phrase "Call before you dig" Call your local phone/cable/ electric people and have them come out and check. You sure do not want to find out exactly how or if the cables a protected with a Garden Spade. Keep in mind that 2' deep may have a +/- factor. In BC I have found Gas line depths that vary from 4' to 8" below grade on the same property. Regards Doug
While I am about a year late to the subject, I just put in some incense bamboo (timber type) and dug down 30 inches to put in my barrier. Never touched the utilities (they should be another foot below) and from what I understand bamboo stays mostly in the top foot or so of the dirt. You obviously need to tamp down the soil around the barrier you put in or the rhizomes will travel down it.
