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New lover of Bamboo needs advice

18 years ago

I just purchased 3 15 gallon Black Bamboo and 1 Golden Bamboo and need to know what is important to know before I put them in the ground. I am concerned about what type of barrier I will need. I read some of the posts on bariers and it sounds like they are good for nothing. I am obsessed with these plants and what to start out with the right care. Any words of advice? Thank you

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Comments (4)

kudzu9
18 years ago
It would help if you provided more info, like how much space you have and what you want to accomplish (grove, hedge, specimen plantings, etc.), as well as what kind of soil you have and whether you have full sun, partial shade, etc.
fluffy_bamboo
Original Author
18 years ago
The location will be getting mostly sun. The ground right now is pretty hard. I am having it dug up and having soil added. I ordered 60 mil barrier and I am making a strip 2' by 20' and filling in with a softer soil. I wasn't sure how many plants to put in that size of an area. I was thinking maybe 2 or 3.
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hoe_hoe_hoe
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First, of all- some would advise against amending at all for large plants that require a solid footing and have spreading roots. You didn't say how deep you were making your strip, but spot replacement of soil is almost always a bad idea and creates drainage issues. Best to work with plant material that can tolerate current conditions. Sod removal is a great idea and a little nutrient rich top dressing should be fine, but if your ground is hard because it is clay, a free draining pit can become a target of run off from the rest of the yard and also wick moisture from the surrounding soil. Furthermore, it will not drain normally at the bottom. Best to work with material that can tolerate your current soil.
And then to play amateur psychologist: "Obsession" implies control. Bamboo, it could be argued, is antithetical to a controlled garden, especially on a smallish lot. Many would agree they CAN be controlled, but most would admit that they suffer in the end despite all the effort going into the process. I think you will find yourself happier with a row of clumping specimens in the end. I assume you are looking for a visual screen, given your dimensions. It seems to me that some clumper or another should be perfect for this application.
kudzu9
18 years ago
If you want a long, narrow, hedge-like strip, you've got enough plants, although it may be a little hard to get them to fill in only sideways. If you want to put in a barrier, especially if you're near the edge of your property, that's fine, but just be aware that even good quality barriers can fail over time. I don't bother with barriers; I just rhizome prune each year with sharp shovel to control growth...but I've got a big yard and don't need to worry much about wayward rhizomes anyway. As hoe_hoe_hoe suggests, clumpers might be easier for you, but it sounds like you've bought some runners you like already, and I think it'll be fine with a lttle attention and vigilance on your part.

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