Skip navigation.

Finding the correct bamboo for a central London position

Last post 17-08-2012 8:01 AM by ceredig58. 1 replies.

Page 1 of 1 (2 items)

  • 15/08/2012 05:11 PM
    • kw1
    • london
    • 15 Aug 2012
    • 1
    Not Ranked
    Reply | Contact

    Dear All I am working on a project in central London. I would like advice on a route is lined with retail frontages, a long linear water rill and lengths of bamboo with high volumes of pedestrian traffic at either side. We like the upright qualities of bamboo but we do not want the plants to compromise views of the retail. Therefore the Phyllostachys species seem to be more suitable due its appearance and abilities to be pruned. The bamboo will be positioned over a structural slab in a pit constructed of concrete with irrigation and drainage coming through the slab. This will leave us with a soil depth of 500mm inc the mulch/gravel drainage layer. This route will almost always receive no direct sunlight. Even in June the sun only slightly creeps into the east of the route. Fargesia species has been mentioned but it acts as a hedge and will eliminate views of the retail. Borinda papyrifa- has been mentioned but will it require to be deeper rooted and it is unknown how it will react to a extremely cold British winter. A few questions have been raised about the construction and if this area/detail can support bamboo. - Is the depth sufficient enough to support the growth of bamboo? What would be minimum soil depth requirements be? If the depth isn’t achieved how will this affect the bamboo. - How will the lack of lighting affect the plants? - Are there methods to ensure that the bamboo stays upright? Canes etc? - The overall maintenance and cost to create desired effect we require for the bamboo plants. We need to be realistic in terms of the daily/ yearly pruning and the costs/quantities of potential plant replacements. Thank you all so kindly for reading. I would love to keep bamboo in the scheme. Thanks Kate

  • 17/08/2012 08:01 AM
    In reply to
    • ceredig58
    • Ceredigion
    • 15 May 2012
    • 27
    Top 500 Contributor
    Reply | Contact

    I can only help you with a couple of queries, I have Phyllostachys aurea and nigra. Both have formed nice plants, they don't mind the lack of sun. They can be quite thick though, So as you say they can be thinned, but I also remove the leafy growth up the stems to about a height of 6' thus allowing a view between the culms. i do this late spring.