Negative comments about bamboo usually originate from those who have never
grown the plant and have no idea how to properly select or contain it. They
are less than helpful.

I would avoid mixing clumping and running bamboos - the runners are very
aggressive and will easily overwhelm the far less agressive clumpers. If you
wish to mix, pick two or more similar clumpers or runners, but most bamboos
'take' very well in proper conditions so mixing two different forms is not
really necessary.

All the bamboos you list are big, rapid growing plants, the clumpers
somewhat slower to develop than the runners by nature of their growth habit.
If rapid screening or hedging is your intent, go with the Phyllostachys.
Either clumpers or runners will successfully fill a long, narrow space - if
width is an issue, the roots and culms will spread laterally, the runners
faster than the clumpers. Upright or erect growth will be dependent mostly
on growing conditions - adequate sun and water. Even with planting in a
stucco retaining wall, I'd use a proper bamboo containment system inserted
before filling with soil and planting if you select running types. Those
roots and culms are incredibly strong and it is best to be properly prepared
BEFORE any potential problems may occur.

pam - gardengal


"Robert Sefton" wrote in message
...
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 ...).

Thanks for your help.
Rob