Planting Bamboo

[Benacre]

I have just been given a load of Bamboo plants. I have been told it spreads so how can I contain it from going nuts?
Cheers
Benacre

[vicki lorraine]

Hi benacre,
I planted just one bamboo over 3 years ago., Wish i hadnt. Dug it out 2 years ago as it was so vigarous. It now keeps popping up everywhere! Have seen bamboos planted in metal containers in the ground. Needs to be really strong though as the roots are really strong and can penetrate most things including plastic.
Choose where you plant it carefully.

[Benacre]

Perhaps I could container grow them. You see I might be an expert (Well so you lot say) but I am always learning and I have never really had any experience with Bamboo. But rather than put it into landfill I have decided to grow it.

In fact I put some on my Free-cycle site and they went woosh! just as quick as that. I have warned them it spreads.
Benacre

[jools]

Hi Benacre
I believe it depends on the type of bamboo. Some are much more invasive than others when planted in the ground. I have seen really large specimens in pots so it must be okay in a container.
Jools

[JennieAtkinson]

As Jools says, some are not invasive. I purchased two plants last year of that kind and intend to grow them in containers. At the moment they are in my plant nursery (posh name for a large box outside the polytunnel!) and seem to have survived the winter so far outside. They seem pretty hardy. Can you check what sort they are Benacre? Friends in Spain planted some in their garden and whilst it looks lovely it has really taken over their plot and is a huge plant.

[lozza_9]

My Hubby told me if you plant the bamboo with plastic sheeting around the bottom of the plant ( in the ground) this stops it spending - he found this out by watching a gardning programme - Never tried it but you might find something on the web, it might have been a gardeners world programme but not 100%

Good Luck

[Alison]

Have grown one in a pot for the past 8ish years, it's grown a fair bit but was specially chosen as one that wouldn't get too out of hand. Will try and find out the variety but not sure I've got the info any more.

[ugly gourd]

I planted a bamboo I bought in a 4 inch pot at a garden centre 5 years ago this year I dug it up it had covered an area 8foot square it had gone through pond liner ( we used it as a weed membrane worked well) under concrete THROUGH a tree stump its like twitch goes everywhere but alot stronger it was like having our own little shop of horrors ( FED ME!! )Ive now planted some in a pot and placed on a patio but I would never risk sinking a pot with invasive bamboo in the ground

[lozza_9]

wow

Loz

[jlottie]

I planted a bamboo I bought in a 4 inch pot at a garden centre 5 years ago this year I dug it up it had covered an area 8foot square it had gone through pond liner ( we used it as a weed membrane worked well) under concrete THROUGH a tree stump its like twitch goes everywhere but alot stronger it was like having our own little shop of horrors ( FED ME!! )Ive now planted some in a pot and placed on a patio but I would never risk sinking a pot with invasive bamboo in the ground

That nearly had me running out into the garden with a torch but it will have to wait until the weekend and day light. I inherited a couple on my plot 3 years ago and brought them home and they have been in a huge pot ever since.

[nick the grief]

Best plan of attack is to plant it at someonelses house

There are some that are clumpers rather than runners but they tent to be the more boring ones

They are members of the Grass family and another fascinating fact is that any one variety will flower all over the world at the same time as they are Clones and they die after flowering ..... not alot of people know that

[Two_Sheds]

You could always eat your excess Bamboo...!