May I ask about bamboo as a fence?

Paumon · #41 10/26/13, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PrettyPaisley

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.

So what are you going to do about all the bamboo that comes up all over on your neighbour's property on his own side of the fence? The bamboo runners aren't going to stop growing at the fenceline, they'll keep on spreading underground to his property. Are you going to go onto his property and mow there too?

unregistered41671 · #42 10/26/13, 09:45 PM

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DEKE01 · #43 10/26/13, 09:53 PM

There are north American native varieties that are little seen these days because livestock love them to death. If you have livestock, they will control bamboo and almost nothing will produce more fodder / acre. I've found sites where people have said 3 years of mowing will kill it off. I wouldn't plant it near a fence line, but I am planting it in the middle of a cow and horse pasture.

Shygal · #44 10/27/13, 05:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PrettyPaisley

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.

You DO know it spreads by runners, right? Like under the ground? Like it could come up 15 feet away from your clump, on his side of the fence, whether you mow your side or not?

Freya · #45 10/27/13, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bay Mare

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

That is an awesome site! I adore sites and books that show how to pronounce things correctly and give the meanings.

texican · #46 10/27/13, 04:35 PM

Send me culms... I've been wanting some 'real' bamboo, instead of the native variety, forever... I want it to get out of control... My jungle area needs that something something to complete it!

ChristieAcres · #47 10/28/13, 03:25 AM

After I saw the damage the running bamboo caused, I bought only clumping bamboo varieties. They are expensive and grow somewhat slowly. I'd contact a privately owned local nursery, as there are usually more knowledgeable folks there, and ask about recommendations for living hedges or hedge-rows.

luvrulz · #48 10/28/13, 04:34 PM

I am allergic to cedar so that wouldn't work for us since I'm the one that mows during the summer. I know some folks that have the bamboo and it stays nice and clean, doesn't go wild and run all over the place....but they mow it down every year at this time and keep it trimmed back all the year long. It is great as a fence line but if your neighbor has electric fence, the plants can't get anywhere the fence line because it will short it out.....

luvrulz · #49 10/28/13, 04:36 PM

And it's kind of like horseradish; horseradish goes CRAZY AND WILL TAKE OVER. As long as you box it in, it won't jump the line so to speak. Be careful what variety you pick though too.....

ChristieAcres · #50 10/28/13, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luvrulz

And it's kind of like horseradish; horseradish goes CRAZY AND WILL TAKE OVER. As long as you box it in, it won't jump the line so to speak. Be careful what variety you pick though too.....

My Horseradish didn't cooperate with being boxed in, jumped the line, and happily spreading. We don't happen to mind where it is.

Yes, you are right about varieties. Everyone I know with "Running" Bamboo has major problems with it (unless they have acreage properties and don't mind it traveling(. It doesn't just pop up close to the main plant, but can travel underground 15 feet... One family were very unhappy about the damage to their concrete patio, as the bamboo destroyed it. If you know of a running type of bamboo that doesn't travel underground, would be helpful to post the type for others considering it.

PrettyPaisley · #51 10/28/13, 08:17 PM

It would be great to make a barrier that is as tall as possible - a shrub won't work - that's what we have now. We can still see right over top of the bushes and they are a pain to weed eat around and keep trimmed so they look nice.

Since I have no idea what type of bamboo this is that grandpa gave me so if I do go with bamboo I will make sure it's not the runner type.

DarleneJ · #52 10/29/13, 05:55 AM

If you can observe the growth pattern of the bamboo that your grandpa gave you you will likely find out what you need to know.

dlskidmore · #53 10/29/13, 07:12 AM

Seasonally you could use sunflower or corn hedges.

PrettyPaisley · #54 10/29/13, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarleneJ

If you can observe the growth pattern of the bamboo that your grandpa gave you you will likely find out what you need to know.

That makes sense-and I was kind of going along those lines. He's been in this house -gosh, well over 15 years that I've been going to see him. The patch of bamboo is beside a large cement pad (I have no idea what used to be on it-the house is at the end of a cul-de-sac and he swears it used to be an old speak easy) but it looks to me like a basketball court. The bamboo just doesn't seem to have moved on past the patch it's always been in. It's not coming up under or around the cement patch, it's not grown up to the driveway-which isn't that far away from where it's always been ... it's clearly not taken over as some think it might. It's just grown tall and thick but it's nothing what others have described. That's what made me think that it might be a good option. He says he just mows around it keeps it cut back in the area where he wants it.

LoonyK · #55 10/29/13, 12:57 PM

Sometimes running species can be limited in spread for various reasons. Best way to id is photos of shoots in spring. The predicament you are in is if you don't use running, then there are clumpers, but might not be any good clumper for your area, but if there is, they are going to be expensive. If they are expensive, then that goes back to your original OP where the cypress was too expensive, too.

PrettyPaisley · #56 10/29/13, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoonyK

Sometimes running species can be limited in spread for various reasons. Best way to id is photos of shoots in spring. The predicament you are in is if you don't use running, then there are clumpers, but might not be any good clumper for your area, but if there is, they are going to be expensive. If they are expensive, then that goes back to your original OP where the cypress was too expensive, too.

That actually was before another posted the site for seedlings. I thought I had to buy them already huge and pay to have them planted. If I get them little I can afford a fence ... just have to wait for it to grow!