Planting Bamboo, or not, continued
I felt I should include a photo with my inquiry about planting bamboo because the suggestions – firethorn, eunonymous would need a lattice to grow on high enough to screen the building, might be rather daunting ?
I felt I should include a photo with my inquiry about planting bamboo because the suggestions – firethorn, eunonymous would need a lattice to grow on high enough to screen the building, might be rather daunting ?
Yes, eating the shoots is the thing to do with bamboo. I like it, I think it’s an interesting plant, gives a japanese or chinese vibe to a yard, I have a small clump myself. It’s evergreen, it has a weird growth pattern that’s interesting to watch. It’s not OK to grow bamboo if you don’t have a containment idea in place–like it’s not OK to let bamboo run over to your neighbor’s yard, because they might not want to eat the shoots.
I would also test soil for lead and other toxins before eating the shoots.
Thanks, I appreciate all the opinions.
There are certainly mixed views on Bamboo and its problems. I was shown an amazing grove at Pratt today and was told there have been no problems, but don’t know the planting situation. A neighbor from Bali says just eat the shoots. I have noticed, no one has suggested someone who would be responsible for choosing and planting and therefor the results.
I do have climbing hydrangea on the side wall and will look into grids or wires as support for vines, but want it to screen the building in the winter.
Plant some climbing hydrangea and/or English ivy along that chain link fence. Keep training the ivy up the fence. Within 3-4 years you will have a nice green wall and won’t see those awful vents (or the chain link).
For the space in front of the windows, plant something more tree-like. You probably only really care about the privacy in the summer, when you are actually using your yard, so you can go deciduous and open your options up a lot. Planting small ornamental trees with a shade garden underneath will be a lot more interesting and feel bigger visually than a wall of bamboo, and you won’t have to worry about keeping bamboo in check.
There are many many non-bamboo shrub options to choose from that will work well in the spot. It doesn’t need to be a vine since the building to be screened is only one story.
Bamboo is beautiful. Google “clumping bamboo”if you want less invasive options.
BTW, a lot of city applications are perfect for running bamboo–as most gardening sites in a city are, in effect, containers of soil in a larger concretescape. If you can see the boundaries of the area you want to plant, running bamboo should be OK. It grows only once a year in spring. When the shoots come up in places you don’t want, you’ll have to notice and break them off.
Is this the view you are trying to hide? I would consult with some garden designers. There are many options, including a structure of some kind (shed, pergola), a few evergreen trees or bushes, bamboo screens (not living bamboo, but bamboo fencing similar to window shades), an arbor with something growing on it, etc. Pyracantha can grow up the chain link fence, but isn’t as suitable for the house. You could grow ivy or a vine on the house, but that wouldn’t block the view from the windows.
No bamboo! I thought about it years ago, and I am so glad I didn’t plant it. Very invasive.
Explore other alternatives…
why not stop thinking about a single plant solution and consider doing some real gardening, with a bed full of high and low plants to give your rather bleak backyard some texture