It usually takes a couple of years before it travels much, so putting it in now will be fine. Below is a link that shows how to install barrier.

Here is a link that might be useful: Barrier

This post was edited by kudzu9 on Sat, Dec 28, 13 at 16:07

Here's the reason why I never use any barriers on my bamboos. It makes them choke themselves out and eventually run out of space. Rhizome pruning, and taking out chunks of the bamboo over time is much more sustainable.

Here is a link that might be useful: pictures of bamboo barrier

You probably already have some rhizomes escaping out into your yard, but it's not a big deal. You will hit them while diging your trench to install the barrier. Once you hit one, be sure to dig it up from the yard side of the trench so it does not continue to grow. I started with 12' tall clumps of bamboo, and within the first year, I had several rhizomes running out 4 feet or so into the yard. When I see shoots start coming up, I go dig the rhizome up and cut it back into the grove area.

Thanks chaps. I planted them as mentioned last May, and they were around 8' high - they've certainly filled out and I still have shoots popping up now, even in Winter.

The things that concerns me is the likelihood of them escaping into neighbouring yards and taking over!

I guess I can just cut through any rhizomes that I encounter - would that stop it?