I get a lot of questions from people about screening with bamboo in a very narrow bed, and which bamboo will be best for the task.
Usually someone wants a 15′-30′ tall screen from the neighbors, and they want to know if they can grow a bamboo hedge in a 2′-3′ strip of dirt between a concrete walk/drive/patio and a wall/fence. It can be done, but I discourage people from trying it because it takes more work to maintain a very narrow planting space, and because I think most people will be disappointed in the performance of their bamboo hedge (read more about where to plant bamboo).
Recently, I have seen two gardens where bamboo screens are being maintained in a narrow planting spaces. Pictured below, is a long hedge of Fargesia robusta being maintained in 3′ wide bed. This a twelve year old planting, so it’s not going to get any taller without a drastic change in the growing environment.
A twelve year old hedge of robusta
To maintain the spread of the plant, culms are cut off at the ground. To maintain the canopy width, the hedge is sheared vertically to remove arching culms.
Pictured below are three Fargesia robusta being used to screen a view of the neighbor house. These plants were 3′-4′ tall in #5 containers when they were planted about four years ago. With intensive pruning, they are being maintained in a bed that is only 2′ wide. Unlike the hedge pictured above, these plants have not been sheared, giving them a more natural look. Also, these plants have grown much faster and will eventually reach a greater maximum height than the above hedge, because of intensive management, i.e. soil amendments, lots of water and fertilizer.
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Both very nice, although I prefer the natural look.
I really wish robusta were more cold-hardy. I’d love to be able to grow it in St. Louis!
nice. Lots of applications for both these schemes here in Morelos. The nurseries in Cuernavaca would ‘blow you away’ w/their exhuberance. By that I don’t mean bamboos..instead flowering ground covers, vines, shrubs, n trees.
These plantings R in Washington state I take it? I love the look of the lower one.
Here in Mexico, people here try to do the same ‘small scale’ definition but by using Bambusa oldhamii!! ..don’t work, looks dumb>boo grows too much
Still no Fargesias here..would you have seeds? I’m slowly trying to change that .Me Y my Michoacan partner (the M & M’s haha) have started IMPORTING species on a small scale. We have worked successfully w/Gib via plant & seed [this last item we hopin’ gets here in time to plant on World Bamboo Day. here we spell it w/a ‘u’. We hope to
get some big tropicals around Christmas time from Robert Saporito. My partner gets his ‘agunaldo’ then..We’re interested in seeds of bambu from reliable sources. Should you acquire some, don’t hesitate to let me know. Importing plants is rewarding as you can imagine. Seeds would be so much easier
B well.. stay in touch
regards,
Clinton
That 12 year old Fargesia hedge is simply amazing! I’ve seen similar things done with Pseudosasa japonica in SE Georiga, but I haven’t had the guts to try it in my own yard here in NE Florida. Maybe someday with the right containment, otherwise tropical clumpers will do just fine for now.
The Campbell form is amazing. I’d never believe in that small of a width that it could still get to 12 feet. OK, now I know! Thanks.
Hi, I just planted a hedge bamboo and finding difficulty identifying its name. Can you help? (Link in Website) I’m in Malaysia.
Thanks! – Nizan
Sorry, I am the wrong person to ask about bamboo that grow in your region. thanks for the comment?