Bamboo to grow ??
 

I'm looking to grow some bamboo
I'm located in MA - cold winters - but appears there are hardy types
I want to grow it to line the sides/front of my Tiki bar
It's going to be seperated with blocking dug down so it can't spread
Height doesn't really matter, but I guess the taller it is the more pieces I can get from each shoot

So, suggestions on type of bamboo or where to buy?
Not happening until Spring I guess

Re: Bamboo to grow ??
 

You might want to check out bambooweb.info • Index page Also look at ABS - Species Tables Index That will give you a list of size and hardiness for bamboo. The species that you should look at is Phyllostachys. Two of my favorites that may survive for you are P. nigra 'Henon' and P. viridis 'Robert Young'. The other species that I am familiar with is Semiarundinaria. I like S. fastuosa. I have the Henon and the Fastuosa.

Re: Bamboo to grow ??
 

Thanks I'll check them out
I need to figure out where to put them so I can dig down & put in deep borders & blocking

Re: Bamboo to grow ??
 

Hi Dave! Try to look the information on following sites:
- Bamboo Flora Gallery
Bamboo Garden Nursery
There it is a lot of photo of set of versions of a bamboo. For myself I have found there a lot of information. Good sites.

Re: Bamboo to grow ??
 

Thanks Andrei those are some good sites that I didn't know about.

Dave do you know what type of boo you want?

A few of the varieties that I have may be ok for you. If they are,I am willing to trade or ship to you for shipping cost. I have P. Nigra, Henon, Bambusa, Aurea, and what is supposed to be Megurochicku. The Megurochicku Has not developed the dark stripe yet though. Also have Semiarundinaria fastuosa viridis and 2 unknown clumpers that are pretty cold hardy. Check out these varieties and if you are interested it takes aboit 6 weeks to stabilize them in pots. The only thing I have that is stabil is aurea.

The easy way to go is to find clumpers that you like and go with them. That way you can just plant them and let them grow. No need for a barrier.

Re: Bamboo to grow ??
 

May be a little difficult finding a good clumper for zone 6-7. I've grown bamboo very successfully, with containment, for over 5 years now. Phyllostachys Viridis (aka Robert Young) & Phyllostachys Rubromarginata (aka Red Margin).
Clumpers tend to be very tropical whereas Runners tend to be temperate. There are quite a number of fairly exotic Runner-types of various types & heights. Robert Young is nice at 40' tall, 2-3" thick old-gold culms, and frequent thin striping. But there are some really nice crook-necks too.
Friendly Caution though. If you're talking about containment using cement blocking, you could run into problems. Cement types are notorious for developing cracks underground and generating suits from neighbors when the rhizomes send shoots up into their properties. The safest way to go is 30" wide (deep) high-density polyurethane & the special double-sided tape. You can get it in rolls as long as 300' or more and, at 6 mil thickness, will protect even against Moso runners.
BTW, both Red Margin & Robert Young are hardy to -5 degrees F.

BTW, I created a Beginner's Guide to Bamboo, here at Bananas.org, that you might find useful as well:

http://www.bananas.org/f8/guide-bamboo-8647.html

The 1st post is the actual guide. Near the end of the thread, I added lists of Bamboos categorized by temperature zones.
Hope this helps.

Re: Bamboo to grow ??
 

Thanks Eric

My neighbors already have a nuisance "bamboo" (maybe) that grows on the edge of my property
I didn't know it when I moved in & put a garden in along the fence
If I had known I would have dug down & put a barrier in 1st

So that area is the "best" for growing something that may grow tall
The cement will only be the 1st step, I had planned on another barrier too
Thanks for the info

I'm not planning on planting until Spring
But I figured I'd start looking now

mckoinld - Thanks for the offer
Not sure what I want, figured I'd look 1st instead of just getting something & then finding out it isn't what I wanted

I figured boo might be a good way to give the pool area a more tropical look in the colder North here

I need to finish up my roof on the addition
Then I'll have a dry area to start things in early Spring

Re: Bamboo to grow ??
 

Hi Dave :). Sounds like you're right on top of it. That's how I do things, myself, slow & easy. Lots of time to window shop (so to speak) and find the one ya like the best!
Best of luck with your project & dont forget to post a few pics along the way. I'll be here for years to come so I sure won't miss out on the pics!
Btw, if you're collecting "track records" on Bamboo companies (an I'm sure ya are), Tradewinds Bamboo Nursery in Oregon is my addition to the list. I've had nothing but super results from them for the past 5 years. I'm sure there are other great companies, too, but that's my add-on to the list.

Re: Bamboo to grow ??
 

I just read thru the other thread you started in July
Lots of good information !!
I'll build the containment area(s) in the Spring
Busy siding the house & additions I have built
2010 is the year the house will look "DONE" - at least from the outside :ha:

Still need to redo the kitchen, finish Master bedroom & then last will be the new Great room

Re: Bamboo to grow ??
 

Generally the bamboo requires the humid kind of conditions and need to be on the cost of a river or the sea. The grow of bamboo is very beneficial but requires vast space to grow it.

Re: Bamboo to grow ??
 

The yellow groove Phylostachys aurea would be hardy in your area. It's a runner, but you can contain it by root pruning, digging a ditch around it 12" deep and watching for it to try and cross over, then cutting off the runners as needed. We started out with 10 nice sized 5 gallon pots 7-8 years ago and now we have a grove 50x15. It doesn't seem to like the pine trees behind it, so it keeps on growing out towards the main area of the property, where we contain it by periodically pulling runners out of the yard with dad's skid loader and stump bucket.

Re: Bamboo to grow ??
 

Jake......are you just digging up 3 year old posts to try to sell grow lights from the link in your signature ?
Your response here plus other responses you have posted that I have read make no sense what-so-ever

Never got to the bamboo project....still on the To Do list
This year I'm putting a new roof on the pool cabana for a better solar heat setup