The Growing Bamboo Thread

[Feral007]

Well I have me 7 bamboo plants 6 Golden Goddess Bamboo Bambusa that is the link to the website page I bought them from.

Supposed to be fast growing and hardy, but non invasive. Here's hoping. BUUUUUUT..
I want to put them in today and I still don't know where the best spot would be.

So tell me your bamboo stories - growing bamboo that is, not just the staking of, with, bamboo stories.

My idea is to put it in a north south line along the western side of what will one day be a seating area. To give it shade and as a wind break.

How far do their roots travel? And will the roots disturb pavers if we use them in the seating area?

[veggiechicken]

I don't really have a bamboo story - just one plant (nameless) that I planted in a corner and I cut each year for tomato canes. Is it invasive? Dunno. It has spread but only by becoming a larger clump. Its impossible to dig out though - because I've tried!!

[Feral007]

How round is you clump now VC?

I'm now wondering if I should pot it instead. And on that thought to save money thinking of making pots out of tyres - and then painting them, and growing a drapey plant over the edges. Now what to line the tyres with to stop the roots getting out.............

Your bamboo sounds like clumping bamboo rather than running bamboo. So non invasive, but almost impossible to get rid of without tractors and equipment (and possibly men ) VC. Oh there's a thought for you

[veggiechicken]

Mine has been there for 10-15 years. Probably couldn't put my arms around it. Its planted between a stone wall and an ornamental purple plum which makes it hard to get in and dig around it. I have tried !!
Don't know how deep the roots go Its at least 10' high.
How about planting yours in a semicircle around a seat? I like the sound of the wind rustling the leaves and the movement of the canes.

[Feral007]

Keeping in mind that there are other things in summer that like to be out of the sun.....I'll plant the bamboo on two sides of a square area that will give me some vision of what else might be there. Rustling and movement being something I'll be watching for on the ground as well

I'm planning to have a flat no mow area inside, so probably pavers. And then seating and a table. But with good vision of what else might be looking for a shady spot (snakes) and one totally open side, so that if a snake comes in while I'm there, we both have plenty of room to get out! I have a 3 sided shed for that reason too - nothing like being in a shed with a snake and both of you looking from each other to the door and wondering.............I know who would make the door first (them) but would they bite me on the way out.

Have been doing lots of looking online. We should be good for bamboo sticks for the garden from the variety we have, and probably for bamboo shoots for cooking as well. Not sure if it will get thick enough to make furniture from, but we'll find out in 3 years.

My plan this minute is making a tyre planter on each side about 2 tyres high. Put some wood chip in the bottom for good drainage, and then soil and the plants. Then mulch them. So they would have good drainage and it should make it easy to get them out again if I feel they are taking off too fast.

Best get some water first.

[zazen999]

Whenever you plant something you have to project 20-30 years and imagine it the maximum size it will grow to, down as well as up and across. So that says mature height 6m and width 2m so make sure it has room to grow out.

[Feral007]

That's why I'm thinking first Zazz. But if VC's is maybe 15 yrs old and only just that she can't put her arms around it, I'm pretty sure ours won't get that big or that round.
The soil it's going into and the climate is not 'perfect' for it, altho it can cope with low temps, but it grows much faster and bigger with better soil and more heat. So I think I might be right to put one side in tomorrow. And then I'll have a little think about whether to put another couple of plants somewhere in the food forest up the back.

[veggiechicken]

Bamboo piccies as requested!!
The 2nd pic is misleading as the bamboo is much taller than that, as shown in the 3rd pic (sorry its so dark - into the "sun").
The 4th pic shows its position between the ivy clad treetrunk and the wall. Although the clump is much larger now it doesn't seem to have invaded anywhere - but there are lots of different bamboos

[Two_Sheds]

How far do their roots travel? And will the roots disturb pavers ?

Someone planted some at school. The one in the gravel bed took over the entire 6ft bed, and even now I've dug it out, spears keep coming up in between the paving stones and seats.

In the other garden, a bamboo (or reed, or both) has invaded not only the pond, and punctured its liner, but it's coming up through the path and all the other beds too.


Yes, it's invasive. I couldn't tell you what variety it is though

[Two_Sheds]

what to line the tyres with to stop the roots getting out....

At home I have black bamboo (Phyllostachys Nigra). It's more-or-less staying in its clumps, which are now 6ft high and 4ft wide (from one 6" cutting planting in 2007).
However, some of it has travelled underneath the fence and the concrete base, and is coming up in the front garden.