Bamboo in north TX

[sannton]

I know nothing about bamboo, other than what I have read the past week and that I want it. We would like to plant bamboo to become a screen along a wooden fence. The fence is about 80'-90' long but the bamboo only needs to grow about 40' of that distance.
We are just north of Dallas, TX so the temps reach in the low teens occasionally. This area in the yard will get full sun and we would like the bamboo to reach about 10'-12'. We would like a clumping bamboo for sure because I wouldn't want it to get into my neighbors yard.
Everyone that I tell we are thinking of bamboo thinks we are nuts! It will invade your yard, you can't control it, you can't ever get rid of it... So now we are a little worried. Do we dig a barrier or not??? There are just so many questions. Does anyone have any advice?
Sandy

[Mike McG]

Hi Sandy,

Your specifications of a 10-12 ft high clumping bamboo in Dallas are quite restrictive. The only bamboo that might fit with this are a couple of the Bambusa multiplex varieties such as B. m. 'Golden Goddess'. However these grow quite slowly and will take a long time to reach their mature height depending on how big a plant you start with. My BmGG has been in the ground about 4 years and is only 4-5 ft high. I should qualify this to say I do not water and fertilize this plant very much.

Another suggestion might be to use the generic type B. multiplex or Hedge Bamboo and trim it to the height you want in late fall. There are a lot more possibilities if you have more flexibility on height and are willing to consider running bamboo.

The Texas Bamboo Society will be holding their Festival at Zilker BG in Austin on 24 and 25 August 07. There is usually lots of different types of bamboo for sale, as well as a lot of experts you can talk to. There is more information at: http://www.texasbamboosociety.net/


Mike near Brenham TX

[mantis]

I agree with Mike... Golden Goddess is your best bet for a clumper that only grows 12' high, and can tolerate some cold.

I planted 3 Golden Goddesses (5 gallon) last September, and now they are putting up 6'+ shoots... Then again I am in zone 9, whereas you are in zone 8, so your growth will probably be slower.

You could also look into B.m. 'Alphonse Karr'... it potentially can grow taller than what you want, but in your climate it'll probably be a bit stunted. Most of the multiplexes would fit your bill, but I mention B.m.'A.K.' because it is popular, and easy to find.

[sannton]

You all are great! I looked at the Alphonse Karr at a nursery yesterday. They had 3 of them. It would be OK if the height is taller than 10'-12' and I would just like to have light in the yard. We lived in the dark for so many years because of the HUGE red tips the lady before us planted. I think taller would be better especially if it is a clumper.
I am planning on going to the bamboo festival in Austin in August because even though we haven't even bought our first bamboo yet I am thinking that we may "need" some ground cover type bamboos. I read somewhere that this is addictive.
Sandy

[sannton]

I have finally found some Alphonse Karr bamboo. They are in a 5 gallon pot. I won't see them until Thurs. because they are at a nursery about an hour from here. They have 10 of them. I am hoping that each one will be able to be split into 2 plants. Is that OK with Bamboo? I need to cover about 90'. We are very excited about tracking some of them down. It hasn't been easy.
Last week I was out in the country and came upon what I think was a HUGE golden bamboo. Someone had surrounded it with a concrete wall about 2' high and 8" thick. The walled in bamboo was about 8' in diameter and the concrete didn't even phase the bamboo. It had grown out of the concrete and was all over the field. It was a bit odd because it was in the middle of a field and there was not one thing around it. Next time I go I will get a photo. Of course this was more fuel for those who seem to live in fear of bamboo.
You all have been so helpful, thanks!
Sandy

Sandy

[Impaler]

If it was that thick, and spread all over, it was likely Moso, a massive timber bamboo, and a "runner". I'm told it isn't overly agressive, and I agree because I have a Moso going on 2 years that hasn't spread out too quickly with its new growth, but it is a runner that gets very big.

AK would be a good choice for your fenceline. It's pretty quick to grow, and easy to control, being a clumper. If you have room somewhere, try a larger clumper like an Oldhamii and see what happens. It will get up around 40-50', possibly more. Very robust and quick shade.

This plant is addictive, so be forewarned. I started with a single Oldhamii 3-4 years ago, and now have 11 varieties including runners and clumpers, and 24 stands.

Also, splitting up the plants is fine if they have a good root system starting out. They shock easily, and seem to take longer to establish. I would say a 5 gallon could be split into two safely enough, maybe three, but no more. JMO.

Dan

[sannton]

I will be going up to Decatur in Sept. and will get a photo of the "wild" bamboo then. It is really large.
The Oldhamii is very nice but I think it may get too cold here for it. We often get temps in the teens. I have had my eye on some dwarf variegated bamboo but haven't done much research on it yet. I love the way it looks and would like to plant it in our front yard in one of the beds. There is also a beautiful very large black bamboo that I am attracted to.
I was very lucky and found 12 of the AK bamboo. They are planted about 3' apart along our back fence. I tried to post a photo to the forum but don't know how so if you would like to see the newly planted AK see our smugmug page. http://sannton.smugmug.com/ As you can see the house behind our fence is close and I am anxious for the bamboo to grow up and help hide it. We planted them about 3' apart. Hopefully that will make a nice screen. Notice that our fence post are also inside our yard instead of outside. Our neighbor is sort of, well... particular.

[Mike McG]

Hi Sandy,

Your garden looks great. Good luck with the 'Alphonse Karr'. They look like they are in good condition. In the pictures, however, they appear to be planted very close to the fence. How close are they? You may have to trim the new shoots at the back in future years to keep it on your side of the fence.

Lastly, what palms do you have planted and have they gone through a winter yet?

Mike near Brenham TX

[sannton]

The bamboo is planted about 12"-18" from the fence. Everything is brand new, just planted in the past 2 weeks. We went ahead and got what will probably turn out to be too many bamboo but we are anxious for it to create a screen. There is one Pindo Palm in the corner, which may or may not make it here in the winter. The rest are Windmill Palms. I think the windmills will be fine. I don't know if you looked at the first photos of the back yard but it was really gross. We had fourteen 20'-25' red tips taken out. They were about 20' wide and had created a veritable cave back there, no grass, not even many weeds. It was pretty shocking when we first had them removed. We did learn one VERY hard lesson. If you have the tree trunks ground down it is difficult to dig a hole anywhere near where they grew. I doubt we could have afforded to have had the stumps removed and it would have also made an enormous gully back there.

[sannton]

I am not sure if I am posting this in the correct thread but... I told you all we bought ten AK bamboo at one nursery and two at another. The thing is they don't look a lot alike. The ten are very green, shortish and full and the 2 are tall, lanky and a little more yellow. I realize that the differences could be the conditions they were grown in but I wanted to ask you experts if you think they are the same plant. The pictures look a lot a like but in person the complete plants don't look a lot alike. What do you all think?
The first photo is of the two different plants and then next two are photos of the leaves on the two plants.

[mantis]

I have never seen a green AK. Shoots are pinkish, and mature to a yellow.

I know it is dark out now, but pictures of the culms would be a good indicator of if you actually got AK.


I was at a nursery last week that had a Buddas Belly listed as AK.

Any mature culms of AK will be yellow with green stripes. End of story.

[Roy]

I have never seen a green AK. Shoots are pinkish, and mature to a yellow.

I know it is dark out now, but pictures of the culms would be a good indicator of if you actually got AK.


I was at a nursery last week that had a Buddas Belly listed as AK.

Any mature culms of AK will be yellow with green stripes. End of story.

You mean like this:

[sannton]

What I am afraid of is that I have bought something really awful, like golden bamboo, and it will take over not only my yard but my neighbors. It is planted near the fence between our two yards. I will get those photos in the morning.
Sandy

[mantis]

You mean like this:

I'd go out now and take pics of my AK, but I'm afraid I'd get in trouble for overexposure. :p.

[mantis]

Picture of my AK (planted 4 months ago. Picture was taken in pitch black), but you should see what I mean... no real green, just peach tones on the new shoots, and yellow on the old...