Which Bamboo?

Discussion in 'Landscaping' started by Brengun, 25th Apr, 2018.

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  1. Brengun

    Brengun Member

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    We had to remove Lilly Pilly's due to root damage and need to replace. We want to look at bamboo, but there are so many types. We want to use bamboo for screening and to not more than 5m high. Any thoughts from your own experience?
     
  2. Joynz

    Joynz Well-Known Member

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    Gracillis. It’s upright growing and it’s clumping not running - and if it gets taller than 5m, easy to trim. Has thinnish culms.

    Plant it at 800cm centers apart for a quick, dense screen or 1m for a slower screen. Might grow faster in Qld.

    Plant 600mm centers from the fence. If any shoots appear where you don't want them, you just knock them off -they will never regrow.

    Some bamboo is susceptible to mealy bug in QLD. Ask at the bamboo nursery about this and height.
     
    Last edited: 25th Apr, 2018
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  3. Propertunity

    Propertunity Well-Known Member

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    You need a clumping variety as they don’t escape. See a local bamboo nursery. I’m using Tiger Grass atm (technically not bamboo).
     
  4. hobartchic

    hobartchic Well-Known Member

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    I'd love to tell you that non clumping bamboo does not escape. It is nonsense. I just pulled out a three foot root from non clumping bamboo that was making a run for it 20 cms under a road base path.
     
  5. Brengun

    Brengun Member

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    Thanks Joynz. That is the one I liked the look of, but there are so many similar that I wasn't sure. How quickly do they grow?

    Hobartchic - do they regularly spread like that or was that just occasionally?

    ANYONE IN BRIS - know the best/cost-effective place to buy bamboo?
     
  6. hobartchic

    hobartchic Well-Known Member

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    Once they get comfortable, they seem to love going for regular walks.
     
  7. hobartchic

    hobartchic Well-Known Member

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    Bamboo in pots is an option.
     
  8. Joynz

    Joynz Well-Known Member

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    It was not clumping bamboo then. You were ripped off - and sold running bamboo.

    Clumping bamboo does not spread like that. Ever. I have had my bamboo for several years and it only ever grows a few centimeters at a time and never underground.

    Lesson: use a reputable supplier and go back for a refund!
     
  9. Brengun

    Brengun Member

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    lol, what a lovely way to put it!
     
  10. hobartchic

    hobartchic Well-Known Member

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    My grandparents had the same problem. Too many green thumbs in my family?
     
  11. hobartchic

    hobartchic Well-Known Member

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    You're welcome :D
     
  12. Joynz

    Joynz Well-Known Member

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    Real clumping bamboo will never spread like that.
     
  13. hobartchic

    hobartchic Well-Known Member

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    Except that it did. Maybe not in your garden.
     
  14. Lacrim

    Lacrim Well-Known Member

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    Is there a species of bamboo thats is of the clumping variety where the stalks aren't visible (or hardly)?
     
  15. Joynz

    Joynz Well-Known Member

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    The proof that your bamboo wasn't clumping bamboo is that it didn’t clump.

    That doesn’t mean that clumping bamboo runs, it means that your bamboo was running bamboo not clumping bamboo.

    I have attached a picture of clumping bamboo, showing how it grows very tightly.
     

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    Last edited: 25th Apr, 2018
  16. Joynz

    Joynz Well-Known Member

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    With Gracillis, the branches are quite low. I prune mine up to around 800mm but if I didn't, the first branches would be 400mm above the ground with the culms not that visible at all.

    Not sure about other varieties, best to ask a bamboo specialist.
     
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  17. hobartchic

    hobartchic Well-Known Member

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    It does clump and then it gets bored and goes for a walk.
     

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