How do I work out how much bamboo barrier I need?
Measure the line where the barrier will go and add 12 in for each joint. Check that against the longest piece for your depth, then round up to the next 5 ft and order one connecting kit per joint.
- Measure the line where the trench will go, in feet.
- Count the joints. A joint is where two ends meet. A straight line has one joint fewer than it has pieces. A closed loop has one joint per piece, so a one-piece loop still has one. A corner or bend in one piece is not a joint.
- Add 12 in (1 ft) per joint. The ends overlap at least 12 in and are clamped with the stainless connecting kit. Tape is not a seal.
- Check the longest piece. Divide the total by the number of pieces. If that's more than the longest piece for your depth, add a piece. Each added piece adds a joint and 1 ft.
- Round up to the next 5 ft, then split it into cuts. Each cut is a 5 ft step and at least 20 ft. For example, 102 ft rounds up to 105 ft, cut as 55 + 50 ft.
- Order one connecting kit per joint, in the same depth as the barrier.
| Depth | Thickness | Longest piece | Weight per foot, about |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24 in | 60 mil | 175 ft | 0.6 lb |
| 30 in | 80 mil | 100 ft | 1.0 lb |
| 36 in | 100 mil | 70 ft | 1.5 lb |
Each cut ships as one box, and boxes stay under 110 lb. Deeper barrier is heavier per foot, so it ships in shorter pieces. How cut-to-length ordering works explains the longest piece.
Not sure which depth? It goes by your USDA zone and the size of your bamboo: see bamboo barrier depth and thickness.
Where do I measure, and how?
Measure the trench line, not the canes. You order by length, not area: a 20 by 30 ft grove covers 600 sq ft but takes about 100 ft of barrier.
- Straight line: end to end, including the part past each end.
- Rectangle: 2 × (length + width). For 30 by 20 ft, 2 × 50 = 100 ft.
- Circle: 3.14 × the distance across. For 12 ft across, 3.14 × 12 = about 37.7 ft. Add 1 ft for the joint: 38.7 ft, so order 40 ft and one kit.
- Curves and odd shapes: lay a garden hose or string on the line, then measure it.
Shoots outside your line keep growing. Dig them out, or move the line out to take them in. On a rectangle, 1 ft out on every side adds 8 ft: 22 by 32 ft is 108 ft around.
The Bamboo Shield install manual covers marking, digging and backfilling. Call 811 before you dig.
How much barrier does a 20 by 30 ft grove need?
The grove is 20 + 30 + 20 + 30 = 100 ft around. As one piece, the loop has one joint: 100 + 1 = 101 ft.
| Step | 24 in | 30 in | 36 in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Does 101 ft fit in one piece? | Yes, under 175 ft | No, over 100 ft | No, over 70 ft |
| Pieces and joints | 1 and 1 | 2 and 2 | 2 and 2 |
| Length needed | 100 + 1 = 101 ft | 100 + 2 = 102 ft | 100 + 2 = 102 ft |
| What to order | One 105 ft cut, 1 kit | 55 ft + 50 ft, 2 kits | 55 ft + 50 ft, 2 kits |
At 30 in, one piece would have to be 101 ft, and the longest piece is 100 ft, so the loop takes two pieces.
You buy the same 105 ft at every depth. At 30 and 36 in, you add one kit and one more joint to check each year.
Put each joint on a straight stretch you can dig to later. See how to join bamboo barrier.
Other grove sizes
Each row is a closed loop, with the fewest feet that work and one kit per piece. The calculator may show 5 ft more, because it cuts equal pieces.
| Grove | Around | 24 in | 30 in | 36 in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 by 10 ft | 40 ft | 45 ft, 1 kit | 45 ft, 1 kit | 45 ft, 1 kit |
| 20 by 20 ft | 80 ft | 85 ft, 1 kit | 85 ft, 1 kit | 45 + 40 ft, 2 kits |
| 20 by 30 ft | 100 ft | 105 ft, 1 kit | 55 + 50 ft, 2 kits | 55 + 50 ft, 2 kits |
| 30 by 40 ft | 140 ft | 145 ft, 1 kit | 75 + 70 ft, 2 kits | 50 + 50 + 45 ft, 3 kits |
What if I only need to block one side?
Run a straight line along that side, several feet past the last cane at each end. One straight piece has no joint, so it needs no kit.
A rhizome that meets the barrier can turn and run along it, so don't stop at the last cane.
Example: the 20 by 30 ft grove runs 30 ft along your back fence. In this yard, stakes past the last cane at each end are 38 ft apart. Yours will differ, so measure them.
With 0 joints, add nothing. 38 ft is under even the 70 ft longest piece at 36 in, so order one 40 ft cut and no kit at any depth.
That's 40 ft instead of 105 ft, but rhizomes keep spreading on the open sides. To hold every side, use the full loop.
If the open sides are lawn, mow often over the shoots during the spring shooting season.
Blocking a neighbor's bamboo? Set the barrier on your side, smooth face toward their bamboo, with the top leaning slightly toward your yard.
How do I use the calculator on the product page?
Open "How much do I need?" on the Bamboo Shield product page. Pick your depth first, since the longest piece changes with depth.
- Choose Straight run, Rectangle or Circle, and enter your measurements in feet. The result lists pieces, joints and kits.
- Click the "Use" button, such as "Use 55 ft", and add that piece to the cart. Add each piece separately, since each cut is its own cart line.
- Add one connecting kit per joint, in your depth.
The calculator cuts equal pieces. For the 20 by 30 ft grove at 30 or 36 in, it shows two 55 ft cuts. They work and leave 5 ft spare for longer overlaps.
For the fewest feet, add one 55 ft cut, then set the length picker to 50 ft and add again.
For another closed shape, enter the hose length plus 1 ft as a straight run. A loop has one more joint than a line, so add one more kit than it shows.
What will it cost?
You pay per foot for your depth, plus one kit per joint. Shipping is free to the lower 48 states. Prices are on the product page, and how cut-to-length ordering works prices this grove at each depth.
What if I order the wrong length?
If you come up short, order one more cut and join it. Even 3 ft short means a 20 ft cut, 1 ft of overlap and a kit, so measure the line twice before you order.
Unused, uninstalled pieces, cut rolls included, can come back within 30 days of delivery. You pay the return shipping. The refund goes back to your original payment within 5 business days after we receive the return.
Common mistakes
- Ordering the exact loop length. A 100 ft loop needs at least 101 ft, so 105 ft.
- Measuring the area. Order by the length of the line, not square feet.
- Counting corners as joints. A one-piece rectangle has four corners but one joint and one kit.
- Mixing depths. A 24 in piece joined to a 30 in loop makes that joint only 24 in deep.
When don't I need a bamboo barrier?
Most clumping bamboo spreads slowly and doesn't need a barrier. If you want a firm edge around a clumper anyway, near a pool, foundation or property line, use 36 in.
Not sure which you have? Plan for running bamboo. Running vs clumping bamboo shows how to tell them apart.
FAQ
How much bamboo barrier do I need for a 20 by 30 ft area?
Order 105 ft. The loop is 100 ft around, and one piece has one joint: 101 ft, rounded up to 105 ft. At 24 in, that's one cut and one kit. At 30 or 36 in, 101 ft is over the longest piece, so order two cuts, such as 55 + 50 ft, and two kits.
Will 100 ft of barrier go around a 100 ft loop?
No. The ends overlap at least 12 in and are clamped, so a 100 ft loop needs at least 101 ft. At 24 in, order one 105 ft cut and one kit. At 30 in, 101 ft is over the 100 ft longest piece, so order two cuts that make 105 ft, plus two kits.
Do I need a connecting kit if I use one piece?
A straight line in one piece has no joint and needs no kit. A closed loop in one piece has one joint, where its ends meet. It needs one kit and 12 in of extra length. Corners don't count as joints. Match the kit to your depth: 24, 30 or 36 in.
Can I order two different lengths for one barrier?
Yes. Each cut you add to the cart is its own line and ships as its own piece. Each is at least 20 ft, in 5 ft steps. None can be longer than the longest piece for its depth: 175 ft at 24 in, 100 ft at 30 in or 70 ft at 36 in.