That is without a doubt phyllostachys aureosulcata yellow groove bamboo. It can probably get under or around the wall since this type seems to have the ability to go a pretty good distance without putting out a shoot. As far as a tool to keep it in check, a bamboo rhizome slammer tool might work. The rhizome/root mass under the grove should be rock solid to around 7 inches deep, but severing a circle around the grove should control it.

I would suggest digging a 1ft deep, 1ft wide trench around the 4th side, and back filling it with mulch so that can rhizome prune it easily. Adding a 30 inch rhizome deflector behind that trench can provide some insurance. I would suggest severing all the rhizomes around the edge of the grove because those rhizomes can get pretty deep into the lawn, and you probably would not want any complaints from the neighbors. After you dig the trench, don't worry about the rhizomes that have run into the lawn. If they are disconnected from the grove, and you keep your lawn mowed, those rhizomes should eventually die off.

I simply find it much easier to grow either clumpers or running bamboos that act like clumpers in my climate so I don't have to deal with control.

Here are some of my bamboos. Also, I don't think you live that far southeast of me, as I'm located directly below lake Ontario.

Here is a link that might be useful: My bamboos

Steve,
Thank you for the information. I hope you don't mind a few more questions.
1. My neighbor has a small backhoe. I was thinking of hiring him to dig a trench at least around the back of the bamboo. Do you think that would work? I'd have him dump the soil into the bamboo patch, to make a raised berm.
2. Does this bamboo pose any threat to underground electric or an underground pipe going from my propane tank? These were put in professionally so I assume they have strong piping and go under the bamboo mat.
3. Once I have my bamboo island, I was thinking of dumping somewhat aged horse manure from a nearby farm into the center. Do you think this would help or hurt the bamboo? I assume the higher up you go with the island the less chance the roots will get out. Would even fresh horse manure burn the bamboo?
Thanks,
Alan

Bamboo pose no threat to underground wiring, piping, sewers, septic tanks, etc. They do not behave like tree roots. The only problem you would have with your underground services would be in the future if you had to replace them: you would have to dig through a tough mat of rhizomes to get at them.
.

Bamboo pose no threat to underground wiring, piping, sewers, septic tanks, etc. They do not behave like tree roots. The only problem you would have with your underground services would be in the future if you had to replace them: you would have to dig through a tough mat of rhizomes to get at them.
.

Bamboo pose no threat to underground wiring, piping, sewers, septic tanks, etc. They do not behave like tree roots. The only problem you would have with your underground services would be in the future if you had to replace them: you would have to dig through a tough mat of rhizomes to get at them.
.

Bamboo pose no threat to underground wiring, piping, sewers, septic tanks, etc. They do not behave like tree roots. The only problem you would have with your underground services would be in the future if you had to replace them: you would have to dig through a tough mat of rhizomes to get at them.
.

A raised birm should work as long as you keep the center nicely thinned out and give a few feet of space between the trench and the start of any culms. Keeping the grove nice and thin will allow some of the old root mass to decompose giving more room to allow more new shoots to come up.

Making the raised bed a few inches higher should raise the level in which rhizomes grow making them easier to catch.

Steve,
I've had a one foot wide by one foot deep trench dug around the whole perimeter of the grove. I have lots of wood chips. I've been thinking of throwing those into the trench, the idea being it would keep the trench from eroding and filling with dirt. But over time won't the wood chips themselves turn into dirt and allow the rhizomes to get out?
Best regards,
Alan

This post was edited by als2002 on Thu, Jul 4, 13 at 14:50

Alan-
You are correct about the fact that wood chips would decompose and defeat the purpose of the trench. What people typically do is fill such a trench with sand. While the sand won't prevent rhizomes from traveling through, it is very easy to probe the sand once or twice a year and then remove any rhizomes you discover.

Sand sounds like a pretty good idea. I would personally eradicate the whole thing, and grow something that requires less work if there's 150ft long, and you are dealing with just about the most aggressive bamboo you can have.

When you rhizome, prune, I would also require doing it several times a year since new aureosulcata rhizomes are capable of producing shoots once they even root out a bit on the other side of the trench because they seem to carry their starch with them as they grow.