Grow Your Own Magazine

my friend gave me 3 pieces of her lovely black bamboo yesterday. Theroots are 2short bits and 1 nice and chunky andlong. I've potted up all 3 together in compost, watered ...... but what now? I really want to be able to plant this in garden at some point. Does anyone have any advice.


frances

Yes, don't do it before undertaking serious research on how tall and how wide it will grow. Ask your friend whether she knows the types of black bamboo that it is.

There are two types of bamboo, the most vigorous of which propogates itself by underground rhizomes. Once in the ground, they're a nightmare to get out and it's one of the very few times I use a chemical killer rather than organic/dig methods.

Check for height also because apart from being invasive, their siting needs to be well thought through.

I've cleared the bamboo in my garden and have just started clearing two huge - enormous really - stands of bamboo on the farm I help at. And by enormous, some of the bamboo is as thick as my upper arm round and 35 feet long!! And some of it is a black bamboo!

The good thing is that once treated, cut bamboo can be used for a wide variety of things and the greater part of what I cut is being recycled in the new fruit tunnel and 'kiwi wall' not to mention the new melong frames being built in the fruit cage.

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TonyF, Dordogne 24220

Black bamboo, lucky you. I bought a couple last year, a tenner each (eBay, and some seed company like T&M I think). They are slow growing, and meant to be clump forming not invasive.
BBC - Gardening - Plants - Plant Finder - Phyllostachys nigra

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~ What do I think of Western civilisation? I think it would be a very good idea ~ Gandhi

[quote=TonyF;187326]Yes, don't do it before undertaking serious research on how tall and how wide it will grow. Ask your friend whether she knows the types of black bamboo that it is.

QUOTE]

Thanks Tony I've seen it in her garden and asked for abit - took 3 ofthem to divide the thing, so I know I've got to be careful, but it is lovely. Its tall and willowy, after 5 yrs in her garden, so dont think its your mansize type.

Thanks for the link- thats exactly the one. I guess tlc is whats needed. I'veanother bamboo in the garden, and thats growing well, so think my conditions are ok. Just have to keep it alive until its over the shock.

frances