On Sun, 19 Sep 2004 13:53:51 -0700, "Robert Sefton"
wrote:

We have a 6' stucco wall in our back yard, and beyond that wall is a fairly
busy street and a large retail complex (stores, banks, restaurants, etc.).
Want to screen that view up to about 25'. I had a stucco retaining wall
built along the outside of the 50' stucco wall to encloses a 3'x50' area to
plant bamboo. We live in San Diego about 10 miles inland from the coast
(zone 10 I think). Our back yard is only about 25' deep, so this bamboo will
be right on top of us and needs to have an erect habit so the back yard
doesn't get too claustrophobic.

My questions:

1. I want to mix bamboos, both for the look and so that if one type doesn't
do well or flowers or something that the entire screen doesn't thin out.
Would runners and clumpers do ok together together in such a restricted
area, or is it better to go exclusively with one or the other. The clumper
would be B. oldhamii and the runners would be Phyllostachys (vivax and henon
and possibly a smaller plant as well)?

2. We've been getting a lot of conflicting opinions from bamboo sellers on
whether B. oldhamii should be planted in a 3' wide area. Of the six or so
we've talked to, 3 or 4 recommended against it (two very strongly) and two
said it would do fine (one very strongly). How much room (width) does
oldhamii need? And if the space is smaller than optimal will the plants just
be shorter than normal or will they just not develop at all? I've seen
picutures of oldhamii growing as a screen along some narrow strips (see the
Burbank, Irvine, and Long Beach photos at the link below), so I have my
doubts about the nay-sayers:

http://www.endangeredspecies.com/Bam...ambusa/BO.html

3. Because the 50' wall is solid, I'd like the lower culms to be exposed. I
like that look and don't need the screen below 6'. Given our situation
(3'x50' enclosed area, zone 10, at least 25' tall, erect habit, etc.), but
ignoring #1 and #2 above (our style preferences), what would you recommend
as the best solution for a hardy and attractive 25+ feet tall screen? (In
other words, if this was your house ...).

Bamboo will do the job, but it may take a while to get established.
It's pretty invasive like people think it is, but it doesn't grow as
fast as some people seem to think it does. If you plant enough of it
to establish it in the beginning it'll fill in nicely(and fairly
quickly). Some varieties of bamboo don't branch much below a certain
height, so you need to make sure the variety you pick is right for
your needs.
There's one type of bamboo which grows wild near here(Arkansas Ozarks)
which branches about 15-20 feet high, then grows to around 50 feet in
height.
There are a LOT of varieties of bamboo to choose from.