Over the weekend, I mentioned to my husband that I thought bamboo would be a good idea to plant along the fence line to create an even better privacy screen. He looked at me in horror and told me it was time for a field trip.
With that in mind, we went to visit his aunt and uncle who purchased a house that had bamboo planted in the yard in the mid-seventies by the previous owner. The result is that they now live next to and maintain a bamboo forest. It is beautiful and intriguing to say the least; walking into the bamboo is like entering a different world. But a close inspection of the ground demonstrates that this aggressive plant is forever trying to push up through the driveway, overtake the yard, and topple any structure that is not securely placed in the ground.
In order to keep the bamboo from overtaking the yard, they must be vigilant. His uncle regularly hacks down portions of the bamboo and watches for tell-tale rhizomes. At this point, unless they are willing to do some major excavation, the bamboo is here to stay.
But wait, what about the so-called good bamboo? Well, it does exist, but for a price. On top of that, good bamboo, or Fargesia (a term which encompasses a whole host of varieties), is picky about where it will grow. Fargesia in its many forms is commonly referred to as clumping bamboo. It will only grow in shady protected areas of one's yard. However, if you want to grow bamboo with wild abandon and not worry about losing the yard, this type is an excellent choice.
However, running bamboo loves the sun and is quite hardy. But it is the leptomorph rhizome that presents the problem. The rhizome grows in all directions and can push over fences and sheds. On the other hand, a little preparation can force running bamboo to be well-behaved. Sinking concrete planters into the ground will help keep the bamboo under control. One can also purchase a special synthetic barrier reputed to help halt the course of running bamboo. Keep in mind though, that those lovely rhizomes can grow through, over, and under barriers. In fact, an ancient torture method was to let a shoot grow through a person. And, even if you do succeed in corralling the bamboo, it will eventually become root bound.
I for one have decided to forgo my dreams of a bamboo screen. I have no luck when I gamble, and I am convinced that the only good bamboo for me is in someone else's yard on the other side of town. As sure as Bob's your uncle, if I put that bamboo in the ground, I will be the next major supplier of bamboo for the National Zoo.



