On Wed, 14 May 2003 00:38:13 +0100, Janet Baraclough wrote:

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I have just done this with part of our p. nigra that I have separated
from the main clump and dug out (not an easy job in itself). However,
I am not hopeful of success as I think I let the roots dry out too
much. After I had done it I looked it up on a US bamboo site and they
warned that you must NEVER let the roots dry out when dividing bamboo.

If they do all take, I would have about ten new plants, which I would
be tempted to grow on in pots, having seen what their parent had been
up to underground! (The same US bamboo site (I think - don't recall
where, but I would have found it with Google - suggested digging deep
trenches all round bamboos and filling them with concrete to restrict
the spread.)

Is p. nigra a thug then ? I'm about to plant one :-) Anyother tips
appreciated.


Hi, Janet,

I have one and it has been going about three years from a bought plant which was
already quite mature - enough for it now to be about 12' for some canes and I think it has
only ever sent out one wanderer. It doesn't seem to have spread out from the base much
either; just that one marauder which was snaking its way ready to pop up some three feet
away.

There was discussion back there about whether to cut back bamboo (to produce thicker
canes apparently). I don't mine. Maybe as long as it is unrestricted upwards, it's not so
fussed about sideways?

Respect

Hussein
Janet

Grow a little garden

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