May I ask about bamboo as a fence?

PrettyPaisley · #1 10/24/13, 01:19 PM

I really want a natural border between our property and the guy beside us and just can't afford those tall, fast growing cypress trees. My grandpa sent me home with some bamboo and I know, I know, it's invasive, but I was thinking this might do the trick if we are willing to do the work to maintain it and keep it under control.

A fair amount of it grows in this area but it doesn't really seem to be out of control anywhere. Grandpa has kept the patch of his contained by mowing around it and it's a great thick fence - as he is using it to block some unsightly neighbors, too.

If you have bamboo do you find it easy to keep under control? I've checked and NC doesn't consider it a noxious weed .... and I am being mindful of the neighbor's wire fence ... he's a great guy, I just don't want to look at his not-so-pretty idea of animal housing.

simi-steading · #2 10/24/13, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PrettyPaisley

If you have bamboo do you find it easy to keep under control?

No, no and NO!

I've got it running all over the place.. I am constantly cutting back the new sprouts.. I've taken the box scraper with the raker teeth down and pulled out all kinds of runners, and it grows back even faster...

I've got it growing up inside my machine shed, and through the gravel drive..

There are kinds that don't run all over the place, but that's not what I inherited.. I hear it's going to take me an easy three years or more to TRY and get it confined to one area with constant work..

If you planted it near my fence line, I'm gonna be REAL upset because it will eventually get onto my land..

simi-steading · #3 10/24/13, 01:32 PM

BTW, I am sort of glad I have it, because I'll be able to find a lot of uses for it, BUT, I'm not happy I have it because of what a pain it is to get rid of and keep under control... On top of that, once you do cut it back, you're real limited on how to get rid of it because you can't burn it.. It explodes really bad. Even after letting it dry..

I've probably cut back several thousand stalks of it this year and just have it in a pile.. I really need a chipper to get rid of it... chip it and use for roadway... since it really doesn't rot very well..

shanzone2001 · #4 10/24/13, 01:34 PM

No, I am sorry. You may not ask.....

simi-steading · #5 10/24/13, 01:36 PM

I think I'd rather herd cats than deal with my bamboo patch.. I'd say it is about.. eh... maybe 100 feet by 100 feet or a little more... I was told it was originally a few stalks put in about 6 or 7 years ago..

1shotwade · #6 10/24/13, 01:43 PM

O.K. Pretty,just an idea but if it were me I'd consider an eastern red cedar fence line. There are many advantages. First off is they are "evergreen" which means ever green! A constant visual border.Next they will absorb sound. A "quiet" barrier if you will.Next,they provide shelter from rain and cold for wild birds and we all love nature or we wouldn't be on this site.Next they are a natural insect repellent ( ants,mites,fleas and ticks. Probably more!) Next you don't have to fight them to keep them under control and of course who doesn't like the smell of cedar!
Just my thoughts!

Wade

bergere · #7 10/24/13, 02:12 PM

I have had the clumping kind for years. No, it doesn't run all over the place. Pretty much stays put.
In fact, there are many times, I wish it would spread just a little. LOL

There is like 2,000 varieties. Some run, like no bodies business... and others you plant, they grow tall but don't spread.

But clumping bamboo can be rather spendy.

Also bought some Leyland murray Cypress seedlings. And they are doing very well.
They are cheaper than the clumping bamboo and grow pretty fast.
http://www.thujagardens.com/MurrayCypress.html

ldc · #8 10/24/13, 02:38 PM

Even in the slightly colder climate of New Jersey, we could never really control bamboo...speaking with experience of my mom's place, and the yards of my clients when I had a garden/yard biz there. There isn't enuf mowing in the world to control it. Even knew someone who planted it as a fence in a concrete trench, that didn't end up holding it either.

simi-steading · #9 10/24/13, 02:45 PM

Got a friend that has some that doesn't spread near as fast as mine, but he wishes he never would have planted it either.. .His grows a lot larger than mine too.. I do wish mine was as big around as some of his.. most of mine is a few inches thick.. his gets up to around 6" in diameter or more..

Tmama · #10 10/24/13, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by simi-steading

BTW, I am sort of glad I have it, because I'll be able to find a lot of uses for it, BUT, I'm not happy I have it because of what a pain it is to get rid of and keep under control... On top of that, once you do cut it back, you're real limited on how to get rid of it because you can't burn it.. It explodes really bad. Even after letting it dry..

I've probably cut back several thousand stalks of it this year and just have it in a pile.. I really need a chipper to get rid of it... chip it and use for roadway... since it really doesn't rot very well..

You could always get a panda bear...that might solve your problem

hehehe, sorry, I had to!

simi-steading · #11 10/24/13, 03:03 PM

I told my wife we should contact the National Zoo here in DC and sell them some for the Pandas...

TRellis · #12 10/24/13, 03:35 PM

Let's not be so hasty....

As previously mentioned there are many different types of bamboo available out there and many do grow and spread like weeds, but there are some that are not that bad.

There is a type of bamboo here in my neighborhood that is not bad at all, and I am not sure what type it is, with the largest growing to about 20' to 30' tall with a diameter of about one and a half inches. It is not what is referred to as construction grade bamboo but it works great in the garden for stakes, tomato cages, supports for my poor, windswept asparagus, trellises, etc.

Most people here just mow down the spreading baby bamboo with their lawn mowers when they mow their lawns and never give it a another thought until they are ready to mow their lawn again.

There is also a place nearby that has a grove where the bamboo is near 60' tall with the biggest having a diameter of nearly five to six inches. Those buggers spread from underground runners and have taken over a square acre or so. I cut those down and use them for posts to hang bird houses and such.

It really all comes down to what type you plant and what you are willing to put up with. If I were to intentionally plant bamboo I would do a lot research into which type best suited my needs and then stay on top of it.

Just my .02 cents.

TRellis

simi-steading · #13 10/24/13, 03:42 PM

I can't understand how they can mow it once a week... bamboo can grow 4 feet or more in a week when it's in the sprouting stage.

I've got all kinds of uses for mine, but man is it a chore to keep in check... I do know some types don't spread so fast, but it still does spread over time, and once it has, it's hard to kill out from the area you don't want it in.

sisterpine · #14 10/24/13, 03:42 PM

I have some moderate tall stuff, like it said 15 feet tall. Growing in four large pots by my spa. Hard to keep it alive here in the desert. I would grow more if it were not so thirsty.

TRellis · #15 10/24/13, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by simi-steading

I can't understand how they can mow it once a week... bamboo can grow 4 feet or more in a week when it's in the sprouting stage.

I've got all kinds of uses for mine, but man is it a chore to keep in check... I do know some types don't spread so fast, but it still does spread over time, and once it has, it's hard to kill out from the area you don't want it in.

That is true and some can grow even faster. I really think that it depends on the type though. You and I were not lucky enough to pick the type that we have. The OP has the ability to do it right from the beginning.

TRellis

joe&katie · #16 10/24/13, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1shotwade

O.K. eastern red cedar

I don't have my notes on the varieties of cedar that can cause the cedar rust on apples, but you might not want cedar if you are in an apple growing area.

mnn2501 · #17 10/24/13, 05:20 PM

NO!

If you get the clumping type it won't spread but that means you won't get the fence you want, if you get the spreading kind it'll eventually be everywhere.
We looked at a house a few years back whose yard had become a bamboo jungle -- needless to say we didn't buy the place.

Shygal · #18 10/24/13, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PrettyPaisley

I know, I know, it's invasive, but I was thinking this might do the trick if we are willing to do the work to maintain it and keep it under control.

Just because you might be willing to do the work to maintain it and keep it under control on your side, doesnt mean its right to force your neighbor to have to do that when it goes on his side.

Bay Mare · #19 10/24/13, 06:11 PM

There are so many different varieties of bamboo - some are very aggressive but some are not. This website has lots of great information to help you pick one that will work for you. (Not affiliated with them - just found the website when I was researching bamboo.)

http://www.midatlanticbamboo.com/bam...bamboo-fsa.htm

PrettyPaisley · #20 10/24/13, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shygal

Just because you might be willing to do the work to maintain it and keep it under control on your side, doesnt mean its right to force your neighbor to have to do that when it goes on his side.

Of course not. That's quite an assumption as well.

My intention was to plant it far enough away from his electrical fence that I could mow between the bamboo and *his* fence line so he doesn't have to deal with it. Other than being a crappy thing to do, I'm sure I could be forced to handle the expense if it were to ever interfer with his fence line.