My Garden

Best bamboo for my garden

Last post 17-10-2009 4:39 PM by Cosmo. 2 replies.

• 03/10/2009 08:16 PM

  Benjamin Location: Gloucester Joined on: 03 Oct 2009 Posts: 1

  Reply | Contact Hi all I hope somebody can offer me some advice, and just to warn you I am a gardening novice so please bear with me :) I have a new garden, and given my partner is a panda-o-holic bamboo is clearly a must for the garden, but which one? We have a small garden, and the bamboo is going to used to form a bit of a sheild to the shed at the bottom of the garden. That area of the garden is quite shadded but I have been told by the chap at the garden centre bamboo don't mind shade to much.  I am quite aware that bamboo is quite invasive, so how do I keep it under control, and also stop it growing to crazy heights? My soil is heavy clay, which I am attempting to improve, is this ok? Thanks in advance for any help.  - Benjamin

• 04/10/2009 09:36 PM

  In reply to

  AlexS Location: Reading Joined on: 06 Sep 2009 Posts: 58

  Reply | Contact Hi Benjamin, You'd be better talking to a bamboo specialist nursery than a garden centre, where they're quite likely to try to sell you what they stock, rather than what's ideal. Bamboos fall roughly into two groups, the ones that run (invasive) and the clump-forming ones. So 'clump-forming' is a characteristic you'll want. Different species grow to different heights. So decide the approximate height you want and then get specialist advice. From what you say, you'll quite likely choose a fargesia, which are hardy, clump-forming, tolerate shade, will grow on clay. But different varieties grow to very different heights, so choose carefully! Cheers, Alex Alex

• 17/10/2009 04:39 PM	In reply to
  Cosmo Location: Joined on: 21 Jun 2009 Posts: 15	Reply | Contact I am growing my bamboo in a larger pot. This will allow it to grow quite big but will also contain it.   Try black bamboo (phyllostachys nigra).