Growing Bamboo on the plot

[Absolute Chaos]

I'm considering growing bamboo on the allotment to act as a screen (we're just inside the gate, by a road and an alleyway) but also to harvest for use as supporting poles. I've read on here that it can be invasive. Ideally, I would like it to be fast growing but not creating a bindweed-style tangle under the ground.

Anyone got any suggestions as to which variety to try and where to buy it?

[TonyF]

My advice is do not, under any circumstances, grow bamboo on your allotment. There are two types of bamboo, one that spreads by throwing out runners and one that spreads by division. The second group tend to be much slower growing and much more expensive.

The other is a nightmare. Down here it grows in profusion and we were only discussing it last evening over dinner at the gardening club. EVERYBODY has massive problems with it. If it grows fast enough to use as canes, it will be uncontollable and once established it is a nightmare to contain and then get rid of. I have some (here when we bought the house) and I've been trying to get rid of it for almost 5 years. The rhizomes form a hard, concrete like mass, you have to take a chain saw to them and use the very strongest non-bio poisons that you can to get rid of it AND if you cut it off short to the ground, it's very dangerous.

My advice would be just don't do it, you're neighbours on your plot may not thank you for it at all.

[Two_Sheds]

You wouldn't be able to harvest it for canes in this country .. the climate just isn't warm enough for rapid growth.

My neighbour has a clump for screening a garage, it's been there for years and doesn't have anything like good canes on it ... it's just tall grass really.

You'd be better trying to grow hazel, in the UK.

[vicky]

Hazel sounds lovely and much more useful!

If you have to grow bamboo line the sides of it's intended hole in paving slabs to stop the roots growing and it taking over the lottie....I'd agree it will take years to get just a few canes from it.

[zazen999]

No offense, but as the lottie really isn't yours - in my opinion you should only grow stuff on it that is easily removed. If you decide to not have the lottie any more - paving slabs or no paving slabs - you would leave the next person with a huge problem. It's hard enough digging out brambles and tackling couchgrass and bindweed, let alone bamboo.

[Victoria26]

I wouldn't do it either. I need a LOT of water and will zap it away from your precious crops. Once its in its a nightmare to get rid of - throwing up runners in the middle of your plot or worse in the middle of your next door neighbours plot!

[Absolute Chaos]

Thanks for all the responses. Doesn't sound like a great idea....!

[jonohanson]

Does anyone grow hazel for canes, is it any good? And how long does it take to grow decent canes?

[sarraceniac]

I grow 5 different bamboos but in my residential garden not on a lottie. The easiest to grow are the Phylostachis family (the spreaders not the clumpers). They don't actually spread very fast up here even though I am in USDA Zone 8b because of the sea but I certainly wouldn't recommend them for a lottie. I take it by screen you mean a wind screen not a privacy screen. They are totally unsuitable for that, none of them like windy conditions and most of them hate them. They are fairly slow growing in the UK so unless you are prepared to wait several years or spend a literal fortune then they wouldn't be any good for any screen. If you want a 'tropical' look on your lottie then you are better off with something like Arundo donax which grows like the clappers in summer. The bad news is that it is not hardy and dies back in winter so is only any good for just less than half the year. Hazels or even better willow are a far better idea. Willow cuttings are available very cheaply in spring and root easily. They can also be woven together. That is what I would choose.

[miffy]

I'd agree with all of the above i have a bamboo in my garden which is very tall 15-20 foot it has spread from a small clump planted 15 years ago twenty feet down the garden, i do thin it out and save the canes and dry them out and i have used these on the lottie and the tops for supports for my peas but it has taken a few years to collect enough. It isn't invasive as i keep it controlled and where i want it, i am using it as a screen for nosey neighbours. Could you not grow sun flowers in the summer along that side or put your runner beans there as they will make a good and very productive screen.