Bamboo in container for hedge in exposed site

Posts

• amancalledgeorge Posts: 2,736

  May 2020

  The main issue with growing bamboo in pots is keeping them moist enough. This will bump the question up, some suggestions of cultivars will hopefully come through.

  To Plant a Garden is to Believe in Tomorrow

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• K67 Posts: 2,506

  May 2020

  If you are by the canal watering won't be a problem. Fargesia is a clump forming variety and tends to bend giving it it's other name of fountain grass. Any bamboo doesn't really like wind and as I have a windy garden the leaves tend to die at the ends and shred a bit and look tatty. I am just getting new growth this last month which will look fine until the autumn. 
  Do you need them there all year round as there are grasses that might suit but some like miscanthus  are cut down in spring.

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• Milly.alan Posts: 2

  May 2020

  thanks AmancalledGeorge and K67 for their replies.
  
  a few issues were raised.
  
  Watering will be ok - we can manage that easily.
  K67 mentioned a clump variety called Fargesia of which grows to 2.5 m high in the case of fantasia "volcano". It does not spread, but we are not sure how many plants we would need to cover the 2 screen length we need to obtain the privacy. Any idea if one plant or how many would be sufficient?
  Also there is no information on the plant website whether it is ok with wind- the site is on a wooden deck over a canal and so in summer it is full sun by 10am for the whole day as it is west facing, but autumn and winter brings wind down the canal to the extent it whistles! it therefore must tolerate wind. We do not mind if it is dormant in autumn winter as this is not a time when the garden is used as much- people retreat then. During the summer all gardens are out and partying and we like to have our privacy then and not be peered into directly. So it is important the bamboo is in full screen mode starting spring and all summer long.
  there is also no mention of whether the variety fargesia is ok for container growth as it permanent home. we need the variety to be ok with container growth although we know that refreshing soil and dividing is required every 5 years with some varieties in containers. this is fine with us.
  We were considering "phyllostachys-glauca"- we liked this because it is literally called the hedge bamboo. Its hardy too, but we only need a spread of 2 m and it can spread to 6 or even 7.5 metres! Nice colour too- not so important though.
  so the question at the start of this thread are still open:
  
  Our questions, what would be the best variety of bamboo to use?

  1. Must be happy growing in a container long planter
  2. Must be strong enough to withstand occasionally windy conditions - the wind is normally only an issue in the winter but it would be on an exposed site.
  3. We only need a height of 2m (for privacy)
  4. A spread length ways (hedge of 2m)
  5. Low maintenance is preferred but happy to prune to maintain health of the plant
  6. Any advice on dividing the plant to prevent it getting pot bound.

  Would be great to hear from anyone who can directly answer each question. Issues like water- we do not have and are not concerned about.
  thanks in advanced for all the help offered past and future. x
  
  Milly and Alan

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• K67 Posts: 2,506

  May 2020

  Can't help with your queries on bamboo but have you thought about troughs with trellis and clematis, depending on variety there are ones for every situation have a look at Taylor's and Thorncroft websites although some grow tallush they can be encouraged to spread sideways instead.
  
  
   

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