Bamboo will definitely grow in containers! I've seen it in those big galvanized livestock troughs and love it.

Nothing you buy is going to grow above 10 ft tall in time to sell the house. Unless it is already that big when you buy it, have it delivered and installed on the site. And will also then need proportionately large decorative containers, that will have to be paid for on top of the up front cost of the trees alone plus getting them situated. (If you were thinking potted trees are going to be the comparatively economical way to do it that will be so only if they aren't all that big. And good looking, durable planters can still be priced in the hundreds apiece before huge sizes are reached).

Plant in preceding photo appears to be something like scouring rush and not bamboo. Not that bamboos can't also be used as decorative container plants. If a body does not mind the rather abundant litter (spent culm sheaths and leaves) they produce during the growing season. And has a method for keeping them going in the same planters for years (this latter need will also occur with any and all other kinds of trees and shrubs).

Another consideration is that many people shopping for houses are non-gardeners that are put off by anything in the yard that seems like it requires any horticultural involvement at all. Other than installations that a mow and blow company might be suitable for keeping up with. So I suggest instead looking at architectural solutions like fencing and/or trellising. With a trellis or arbor on top being a way to legally extend fencing above 6 ft. municipal height restrictions.

Thank you for your feedback. Unfortunately we have an association, no fence over 5ft. If you see in the pictures below, what Im referring to as no privacy. I need to come up with some kind of low cost solution for under say 1k.

Oh, I think you're right, Embothrium. That's not bamboo, is it? This is what I get for looking for a picture while working on my tiny laptop!

>Unfortunately we have an association, no fence over 5 ft.<

Then based on this determination having been made combined with what I know about other H.O.A. governed developments chances are a wall of ~10 ft. tall potted trees wouldn't be approved either. And in all frankness hoping to end up with sizable trees in attractive planters forming a solid screen all the way along the length of fence corresponding to the three patio umbrellas for under $1000 was completely unrealistic.

You should find out what the association will let you do and then go from there. If anything like what you want to do is permitted and you can come up with the money for it.

Apart from that the closest house is actually quite a ways back there. It is kind of funny that you are getting shoppers that think a fenced back patio with a green belt right next to it is too public. The situation frequently asked about here, by those looking for instant tall screening from plants is instead new housing being built right on top of their lots. As in say 10 ft. beyond their fence.

Maybe if you just wait a little longer the right buyer, that thinks the existing setting is fine will come along. The association has planted new trees in the green belt, that will grow up to form screening in time.

Bamboo would do fine and you can find some that will get over 10 ft tall. Go find a bamboo specialty nursery near you and discuss different kinds. I have bamboo in 6' stock tanks all around our barns, and the variety is about 10' tall, plus the 2' height of the tanks. There are others that will grow much taller. Bamboo is basically a big grass; the root ball is essentially just below the clump, it doesn't spread wide. You can buy bamboo very tall; the clumps may be fairly thin but the buyers will get the idea.

Eventually, they will have to be pulled and divided, but you can go 5-10 years before you have to do that, especially if you fertilize. The easiest way is to use wooden boxes with a side that can be removed by unscrewing. That makes it relatively easy to pull them out. However, this is not your issue because you won't be there!

Bamboo comes in many colors, textures, etc. You can also look at Otatea, which is called Mexican bamboo, and gets 12-15' tall, very airy and graceful.

Otatea

I second the bamboo suggestion. Clumping type bamboos are extremely well suited for container culture and can often be purchased at a significant height already, depending on species. I like them in the galvanized stock tanks as well but the wooden box planters Sara describes would make life a whole lot easier when it does come time to divide, root prune or refresh potting mix.

Excellent advice thanks everyone for all the info, Ill need to check out where they sell bamboo around here, probably cant go into a lowes or homedepot. Thanks again!!

To second what Embothrium said, definitely check the HOA rules. In my past few HOAs, pretty much anything could be grown if you planted it in a container instead of in the ground. That's the situation where I am now too. But my parents live somewhere where they aren't allowed to have any potted plants outside, so HOA rules can vary pretty drastically.

And actually, you can use running bamboo in containers (secure ones) with impunity. They will not escape. Mine are all of a running variety.