You asked ..... I don't like it because it's expensive, too water retentive out of the bag, and moves quickly along the path to collapse. I wouldn't add grass clippings because they break down quickly, compromising drainage and aeration, especially in out-of-the-bag peat-based soils, and as well, cause considerable N immobilization. ... but if you feel you're getting good results, why change anything? I would point out though, that a very high % of those reading the soil threads are nerds (tongue in cheek) & like to talk about soils, or have come here seeking solutions to the problems they encounter(ed) while they were using soils/mixes like you describe. Al

To my knowledge, a bag labeled "elemental sulfur" would be 100% sulfur. Agricultural sulfur, at least, the two different suppliers that I have dealt with, is 90% sulfur, and 10% clay. I guess the clay is supposed to help the sulfur dissolve in the soil. I don't wish to make a complicated subject even more complex, but it can't be helped. Getting a good, trustworthy pH test result is not trivial. If one is using a pH meter, the electrode might need to be cleaned, before and after testing. The meter will need to be calibrated, using solutions of known pH. The water used in sample preparation should be distilled or reverse osmosis de-ionized. To my knowledge, there is no metal probe type "pH tester" that is considered to be acceptable for laboratory use. But the plants don't lie. If the leaves are green, and the shrub is putting on growth, that's a sure sign the pH is somewhere between 4 and 5.5.

Hi Cadence, Here's a video on division. In regards to total height, I'll use my Nigra as an example. We bought 15 gallon specimens of Nigra in 2008. There were approx. 5 culms (stalks of bamboo) in each pot. Each culm was around 4-6' tall. We planted the bamboo. Nothing happened for a year. Then in the spring of 2009 we got a bunch of new shoots coming up next to the old culms. The new shoots grew to approx. 10-12' high and stopped. Nothing happened for another year. In 2010 we got a bunch of new culms coming up. They all died. I think it was a really cold winter that never really turned into spring that did it. We didn't have much of a spring or summer last year, it was just cold the whole time. But who knows... :) Currently we have the original culms (still 4-6' tall), the 2009 culms (still 10-12' tall) and we are getting tons of new shoots that have grown several feet in the past week. Some are nearly as tall as the second year growth and there's no sign of them stopping. I don't know if this year's growth will reach the maximum I'm told to expect in my area (20-25'... even though max height is around 30-35') but I think they'll probably make it to around 18' this year at least. Once the new culms come out and are fully established I can go in and cut out some of the smaller stuff. Oh... and the original growth of 4-6' also had culms a little bigger around than a pencil. It's fully black. The second year growth still isn't entirely black (spotted green/black) and it's about as big around as a man's thumb. The growth that is coming out now is about twice as big around as the second year growth and is probably as big around as they will get. I hope this helps explain what is expected. The cool thing about bamboo is that it doesn't keep growing once it reaches max height potential. So, unlike other plants that you have to keep trimming back (hedges,etc), once your bamboo reaches the height you want it at you can cut it to that height and it will stay like that for the rest of it's life span. All you'd need to do is cut off new culms to that height once they finish growing. Here is a link that might be useful: Bamboo Division

Gary - OMG! The second video is even more frightening than the first. Of course, the creepy soundtrack is the perfect addition to set the mood. :) I truly have nothing to compare to it, but just for the sake of amusement and self-confession, here are a few of my not-so-favorite things: Japanese lanterns - oh, look at the pretty little lanterns that dry so well for arrangements... look at the root system that goes straight down to hell and out from there! Caught that one in time, fortunately. Mint - no further words necessary Comfrey - NEVER put this in the main garden - another one I caught after not so long and managed to move to a spot where it didn't matter. Wine grapes Blackberry - sent to me by accident when I ordered something else - it has since taken over a large area - fortunately not in my vegetable garden, but if I ever want to get it out, it will take a bobcat to do it. Rosa rugosa - thought I wanted some rose hips...:( Tomatillo - friends gave me this one; I found out I don't even like it in salsa - no getting rid of it now And add to this list one I am not responsible for since it was some former owner who put it in to graze horses or cattle on - canary grass. Perennial Pea - this was already here, too, but I innocently encouraged it a little in one area of my former flower garden (note that I say "former"), instead of lifting my hands in horror, and immediately ripping the invader out. I cannot thank you enough for this eye-opener on running bamboo!