The Hippie's B⊙⊙mboom Threap - Page 11

LaurV · 2021-06-09, 14:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by masser

NOT actually a bamboo.

NO panda bear for you!

veganjoy · 2021-06-09, 21:21

I've been messaging the people over at bamboogarden.com, they're located in Oregon and seem like a very squared away bamboo nursery. They said that the southeast US is particularly inhospitable to basically all varieties of clumping bamboos, but that it'd be a good habitat for many running bamboos. Basically any Phyllostachys or Semiarundinaria species fits the conditions here, so I've been taking a look at these for now:

http://www.bamboogarden.com/Phyllost...%20%20Moso.htm

http://www.bamboogarden.com/Phyllostachys%20dulcis.htm

The Moso bamboo looks particularly impressive, although it seems to be one of the largest ones to grow. If I were to trim the tops of a bamboo like that down to 15 or 20 feet, would that stunt new growth or reduce the density of the leaves?

veganjoy · 2021-06-25, 17:28

So they offer a bunch of different bamboo sizes as per here: http://www.bamboogarden.com/price.htm

Anywhere from 2 feet tall to 40+, though I think our budget would prefer we stay on the shorter side. Should we get 2 or 3 bigger ones (size 5 or 10) or a bunch of the smaller ones (size 1 or 2)? The larger ones are supposed to have a more established and hardy root system but maybe it'd be better to just throw numbers at this?

Also, for planting them, are there any special things we should do? Or is it just a pretty basic "put em in the ground with some dirt" sort of deal?

chalsall · 2021-06-25, 18:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by jvang

Should we get 2 or 3 bigger ones (size 5 or 10) or a bunch of the smaller ones (size 1 or 2)?

Depends on what aesthetic you're after.

We planted four bunches (I don't remember the species) in the planter beside our pool, and after a year they still haven't started to fill in the gaps in-between. They will /eventually/, but I wish we had done a greater number of smaller bunches.

xilman · 2021-06-26, 17:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by jvang

I've been messaging the people over at bamboogarden.com, they're located in Oregon and seem like a very squared away bamboo nursery. They said that the southeast US is particularly inhospitable to basically all varieties of clumping bamboos, but that it'd be a good habitat for many running bamboos. Basically any Phyllostachys or Semiarundinaria species fits the conditions here, so I've been taking a look at these for now:

http://www.bamboogarden.com/Phyllost...%20%20Moso.htm

http://www.bamboogarden.com/Phyllostachys%20dulcis.htm

The Moso bamboo looks particularly impressive, although it seems to be one of the largest ones to grow. If I were to trim the tops of a bamboo like that down to 15 or 20 feet, would that stunt new growth or reduce the density of the leaves?

1) Semiarundinaria tends to be very runny; you might find Phyllostachys species more controllable. Ph. bissettii is widely used as a hedging bamboo but most species do well, though I would not recommend Ph. violasceçns. It is a beautiful plant but the culms tend to be widely spaced.

On of my hedges is Pseudosasa japonica which has much larger leaves than Ph. species and forms dense hedges.

2) If you cut off at a certain height those culms will not grow any taller but should have no other effect. assuming you don't crop off at ground level off course!

xilman · 2021-06-26, 17:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by jvang

So they offer a bunch of different bamboo sizes as per here: http://www.bamboogarden.com/price.htm

Anywhere from 2 feet tall to 40+, though I think our budget would prefer we stay on the shorter side. Should we get 2 or 3 bigger ones (size 5 or 10) or a bunch of the smaller ones (size 1 or 2)? The larger ones are supposed to have a more established and hardy root system but maybe it'd be better to just throw numbers at this?

Also, for planting them, are there any special things we should do? Or is it just a pretty basic "put em in the ground with some dirt" sort of deal?

personally I would go for a larger number of smaller plants. They will merge to form a dense hedge more quickly. Feed and water them well and even small plants should grow to full height in 2-4 years, depending on species.

veganjoy · 2021-08-04, 22:04

Making a bit of progress on the bamboo area, we got the barrier in a while ago but the trench isn't yet done. After just a few inches of digging the soil turns into an extremely compacted, rocky form that is very hard to dig through. We forgot to call the 811 service about digging here as there could be utility lines and whatnot underneath so we went ahead and did that. Once they clear it, I'm thinking about getting a trenching machine to finish it all up. They're like big chainsaws for cutting through the ground, should be neat!

richs · 2021-08-12, 00:02

I suggest renting an electric jackhammer with a wide blade rather than a trenching machine. That how I dig here with our soil conditions which are similar to yours.

Dr Sardonicus · 2021-08-12, 13:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by jvang

Making a bit of progress on the bamboo area, we got the barrier in a while ago but the trench isn't yet done. After just a few inches of digging the soil turns into an extremely compacted, rocky form that is very hard to dig through. We forgot to call the 811 service about digging here as there could be utility lines and whatnot underneath so we went ahead and did that. Once they clear it, I'm thinking about getting a trenching machine to finish it all up. They're like big chainsaws for cutting through the ground, should be neat!

If you haven't done so already, have a locate done on utilities before you dig.

chalsall · 2021-08-12, 19:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by richs

I suggest renting an electric jackhammer with a wide blade rather than a trenching machine. That how I dig here with our soil conditions which are similar to yours.

Agreed. After a while, you'll actually be able to control the machine with one hand (and you will develop muscles you didn't know you had!).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr Sardonicus

If you haven't done so already, have a locate done on utilities before you dig.

Seconded. While hitting a water main (or even an electrical feed) /probably/ won't kill you, it can make for a very bad day...

veganjoy · 2022-04-14, 00:16

bamboo arrived today! was advertised as 4 to 7 foot tall plants... i suspect theyre over 10 feet tall!

2021-08-04, 22:04	#117
veganjoy jvang "Joey" Nov 2015 Middle of Nowhere,AR 2·229 Posts	Making a bit of progress on the bamboo area, we got the barrier in a while ago but the trench isn't yet done. After just a few inches of digging the soil turns into an extremely compacted, rocky form that is very hard to dig through. We forgot to call the 811 service about digging here as there could be utility lines and whatnot underneath so we went ahead and did that. Once they clear it, I'm thinking about getting a trenching machine to finish it all up. They're like big chainsaws for cutting through the ground, should be neat! Attached Thumbnails

2022-04-14, 00:16	#121
veganjoy jvang "Joey" Nov 2015 Middle of Nowhere,AR 1CA₁₆ Posts	bamboo arrived today! was advertised as 4 to 7 foot tall plants... i suspect theyre over 10 feet tall! Last fiddled with by veganjoy on 2022-04-14 at 00:17

2021-06-09, 21:21	#112
veganjoy jvang "Joey" Nov 2015 Middle of Nowhere,AR 2·229 Posts	I've been messaging the people over at bamboogarden.com, they're located in Oregon and seem like a very squared away bamboo nursery. They said that the southeast US is particularly inhospitable to basically all varieties of clumping bamboos, but that it'd be a good habitat for many running bamboos. Basically any Phyllostachys or Semiarundinaria species fits the conditions here, so I've been taking a look at these for now: http://www.bamboogarden.com/Phyllost...%20%20Moso.htm http://www.bamboogarden.com/Phyllostachys%20dulcis.htm The Moso bamboo looks particularly impressive, although it seems to be one of the largest ones to grow. If I were to trim the tops of a bamboo like that down to 15 or 20 feet, would that stunt new growth or reduce the density of the leaves?

2021-06-25, 17:28	#113
veganjoy jvang "Joey" Nov 2015 Middle of Nowhere,AR 2×229 Posts	So they offer a bunch of different bamboo sizes as per here: http://www.bamboogarden.com/price.htm Anywhere from 2 feet tall to 40+, though I think our budget would prefer we stay on the shorter side. Should we get 2 or 3 bigger ones (size 5 or 10) or a bunch of the smaller ones (size 1 or 2)? The larger ones are supposed to have a more established and hardy root system but maybe it'd be better to just throw numbers at this? Also, for planting them, are there any special things we should do? Or is it just a pretty basic "put em in the ground with some dirt" sort of deal?

2021-08-12, 00:02	#118
richs "Rich" Aug 2002 Benicia, California 2·859 Posts	I suggest renting an electric jackhammer with a wide blade rather than a trenching machine. That how I dig here with our soil conditions which are similar to yours.