Yes, this is partiallly true. There are hundreds of different kinds of bamboo,but they mainly fall into two types of categories. "running" bamboo is the type that will take over your yard if you do not "install" a Rhizome Barrier. If you are planting in containers, this should not be an issue. However planting bamboo in a planter is tricky due to there aggressive root nature. Youll need a large container.

The second type is know sometimes as a "clumping" bamboo and does not have any invasive characteristics. No rhizome barrier is needed for this type.

Will bamboo muffle some of the noise?

Absolutley!! All that concrete and stucco back behind our houses is awful for sound. It just bounces all over the place. Having plants with lots of leaves will certainly help to dampen sound, but don't expect it to make your noisy neighbors disappear..

Great post, thank you! While I can't expect my neighbors to disappear (and it could be worse since these people take great pride in their property and are civilized except for level of noise involved in their outdoor activities), I think I need just a little bit more privacy and a moderate amount of muffling.

A friend of mine knows the owner at http://www.lewisbamboo.com/ and they have many varieties that do well in the cold up here. Yellow grove bamboo was what he suggested for me to use up here, specifically for privacy screen and to keep down the noise from neighbors. He said planting in containers would be fine, just use rhizome barrier to line them, and be careful of the first two years of freezing temps. Container planted bamboo needs a bit of extra care against the cold. But basically with the protection of the container and the barrier lining, the "invasiveness" isn't an issue.
I haven't tried it yet cause of the money, but I'm saving up.

Thank you so much!

I just spent most of last night removing about 30 "trees" of bamboo from my back yard. They have taken over the surrounding areas of my neighbors' yards and my alley behind the house.

Then, when I put them out front for trash, someone took them (they were stripped of their leaves) within 10 minutes of me going out front - incredible! Every night, the day before trash day, I will be putting out more if anyone wants it, haha.

__________________
If Bruce Springsteen's the "Boss," who's Tony Danza?

This year I found "skypencil Japanese Holly" at Home Depot. They stay narrow (maximum 2-3 ft.) and they are evergreens so they stay green all year. They get about 8 ft. tall. I, myself left them in pots along one side of my deck along the fence for a natural barrier. (I don't want to see my neighbor) So far, they are growing and filling out very nicely.(They are now approx. 5 feet, growing 1 foot so far in 2 1/2 months)

Do you know about how much you paid for them? This sounds perfect for my yard. Thanks

Yes, they were $29 each. I bought 6 that were about 3 ft. tall in two-gallon pots.