I am actually hoping my nigra will flower and die. Nigra is so not cold hardy for my area. I am tired of having to protect it every year. Last year it shot up to 15 feet or more. This year, it downsized significantly due to top kill.

needmore wrote: ↑Sat Jul 13, 2024 5:34 pmLooks great!

Yes. This is the best it has ever looked. I have gone to great lengths to protect it. Unfortunately, I am running out of space. I might have to remove the Red Margin at the back as it's right next to the fence (with no barrier), and increasely blocking the side exit.

Here it is, my bamboo garden. In the back is Red Margin, Nigra on the right, Parvifolia on the left, and Atrovaginata is also on the left just out of the photo frame. I managed the squeeze in as much bamboo as possible inside this 20 ft by 40 ft yard.

Growing Phyllostachys parvifolia in zone 5 gave me the impression that leaf area surviving into spring has a great effect... You are correct that Winter damage is the biggest factor in hindering bamboo growth size. My Parvifolia does get quite a bit of sun in the summer months. It is sandwiched bet...

This year has been a disappointment despite a mild Winter and minimal bamboo damage. The shoots of my Parvifolia are nearly all slanted and smaller in size compared to previous year. Atrovaginata shoots are much fewer, and some are also slanted. I was expecting some major upsize! This lead me conclu...

Bissetii grows a lot taller than 8-12 feet when it matures though. ... Under good conditions, yes. But, given a limited space, water and/or fertilizer, it may not even reach 10 feet. I planted a Bissetii grove in my front lawn over a decade ago. For several years, I neglected it and it remain stunt...

Agreed. I had wrapped/tarped most of my bamboo over this past Winter. But oddly, the few that I didn't protect actually look better, with less Winter damage. The only explanation is the exposed bamboo received enough water from the rain and snow, wheres the fully protected ones diverted precipitatio...

I think Bissetii would be the best for screening. If you're concerned about the barrier, try growing it in a raised bed.

Not good...
My Bissetii still have not shot this year. I am in Zone 5. I expect new shoots in the 2 weeks. Perhaps by earlier summer I will know if mine will flower. But even if it doesn't flower this year, it's due date is not far.

Interesting that one bamboo is salt tolerant. Not sure which is worse: storm surges or Winter damage? I think the later. You can at least plant bamboos on higher grounds or on mounts to migitage storm surge damage. Winter protection is much harder for large bamboos and has to be done yearly if you w...

Just to give an update. I decided to let it grow and I am glad I did. Even though the shoots started off very close, they eventually spreaded out near the top gave each other space. And luckily, the one shoot which I trimmed grew fully. Turns out the 1 inch tip that I trimmed consisted of all sheaths.

I noticed also the forum is getting much quieter for the past several years. Some of the more frequent posters had moved on to warmer places with more options, leaving behind their bamboo collections. Also, there seems to be no more new cold hardy bamboo to be discovered. For my zone (5), I have com...

It is bamboo shooting season for me. There are some shoots that are sprouting in less desirable locations. E.g. In areas that I don't want it to go or when shoots grow too close together. In fact, the latter case is so prevalent this year for some reason. Therefore, I am looking for ways to induce a...

I was ready for this Winter. I purchased two 30' x 40' tarps and covered all my bamboos around mid January when the weather was forecasting many consecutive days of extreme cold. That said, there's also a chance my bamboos may survive without the tarps because of the amount of snow cover. My bamboos...