The Beast: a 6-year-old Phyllostachys viridis 'Robert Young' grove in a small garden bed. The Problem: rhizomes out of bounds and growing under Mom's roses. The Tamer: Mom's daughter, Diane, weighs in at 100 pounds (well, a little bit over). Last Thanksgiving, Diane and family went home to Ukiah, California to enjoy the annual holiday get-together. In phone conversations with Mom she had been hearing the frightening news about how our gift bamboo was threatening her garden universe. Determined to ease Mom's worry, Diane went prepared with the tools to corral the rampant invader. The next morning, with a strong French-roast coffee in her hand, she admired the beautiful yellow culms and lush foliage of a very happy 'Robert Young' bamboo, knowing all the while that hidden from view the active rhizomes were creating a web of subterranean terror to the neighboring roses.
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