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

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.

The only time I have ever seen bamboo in a back yard, it had taken over.
They had to hatchet paths through it to get through their yard.

Kind of like the Kudzu has done here in the south.

Kate

"Watcher" wrote in message
...
| 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...ns/Ba/Bambusa/
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.

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

"Pam - gardengal" wrote in message
news:uQB3d.75913$MQ5.26297@attbi_s52...
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.


Hi Pam -

Great information - thanks. And I agree totally with your first statement.

As for mixing runners and clumpers, one of my motivations is to save a
little
cash on the rhyzome barrier. For 30" wide by .060" think barrier I've seen
prices from $2.75 - $4.5 per foot. To enclose my 50'x3' area would take
around 110 feet, or $300 - $500 just for the material. I figured I could
instead
enclose 2-3 smaller areas for runners and plant clumpers in between. For
example, if I had two 15'x3' areas for runners I would need about 80' of
barrier
vs. 110'. Well, now that I actually analyze it I would only save $100 or so.
Probably not worth the hassle.

Do you have a preference between P. vivax and bambusoides? I know vivax
grows faster, but from what I've read it has much thinner walls and can get
damaged by high winds. Also, what would you recommend for some color
variation in the culms? I'm considering P. viridis 'Robert Young' and
P. bamusoides f. castillonis.

Rob

"Robert Sefton" wrote in message
...
"Pam - gardengal" wrote in message
news:uQB3d.75913$MQ5.26297@attbi_s52...
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.


Hi Pam -

Great information - thanks. And I agree totally with your first statement.

As for mixing runners and clumpers, one of my motivations is to save a
little
cash on the rhyzome barrier. For 30" wide by .060" think barrier I've seen
prices from $2.75 - $4.5 per foot. To enclose my 50'x3' area would take
around 110 feet, or $300 - $500 just for the material. I figured I could
instead
enclose 2-3 smaller areas for runners and plant clumpers in between. For
example, if I had two 15'x3' areas for runners I would need about 80' of
barrier
vs. 110'. Well, now that I actually analyze it I would only save $100 or
so.
Probably not worth the hassle.

Do you have a preference between P. vivax and bambusoides? I know vivax
grows faster, but from what I've read it has much thinner walls and can
get
damaged by high winds. Also, what would you recommend for some color
variation in the culms? I'm considering P. viridis 'Robert Young' and
P. bamusoides f. castillonis.

Rob

Make the investment in the rhizome barrier - it's well worth it. Given the
choices, I'd go with the bambusoides - strong plants and quite rapidly
growing, all things considered. Not as familiar with vivax as it gets too
big too fast for most gardens and is not really much in demand in my area.
I've not grown it, but resources indicate that viridis 'Robert Young' tends
to be very bare the bottom 50% of the culms - maybe not the best look for
your purposes, specially if it achieves the height it's reported to achieve.
For some color variation, consider bambusoides 'Castillonis Inversa', which
has reverse coloring from 'Castillionis' - green culms with yellow striping.
Or 'Violescens' which has green culms with purple spotting. Or if you wanted
to introduce something smaller and you can find it, try P. nigra 'Boryana',
also called 'tortoiseshell' bamboo as it produces culms which are randomly
splotched with green, brown and purple and resembles a tortoiseshell - a
smashing bamboo and one of my favorites.

pam