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Bamboo and Prunus beni yutaka

Lee-annemullanLee-annemullan Posts: 9
in Problem solving
Hello!  I have  been in our house now for a few years and haven't a clue what to do with the garden!  Last autumn we planted a cherry tree as we wanted something to grow with our daughter and thought it would be nice to have a tree in the space blocking a bit of an eyesore estate behind. Now the tree is growing lovely but we need something  alongside  that's going to go near the  6ft fence at the back and grow tall. I am considering a clumping bamboo. As the root spread isn't invasive? Would this affect the cherry tree or fence ? I thought maybe  2 or 3 to cover the back fence and to position them 5ft apart? How far away  would they need to be from the cherry tree?  The tree is still young  so want it to stay thriving but i also need tall screening  near the fence.  Does anyone have any suggestions? 

Posts

  • Lee-annemullanLee-annemullan Posts: 9

  • Lee-annemullanLee-annemullan Posts: 9

  • Lee-annemullanLee-annemullan Posts: 9
    In the second pic i thought i could maybe pot some and have that on the cement but until we decide if we are going to dig it up and close off the gate 
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    I wouldn't go for clumping bamboo, as it naturally spreads over time. It would be fine in very big pots (think dustbin size) on the concrete bit as long as you are prepared to water them a lot all the time, they are very thirsty plants. 
    I recommend you put a horizontal trellis along the top of the fence behind the tree and perhaps grow a climber (maybe a clematis) along it. This would give you screening and would be cheaper than the bamboo plants, as well as taking up less space.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • bertrand-mabelbertrand-mabel Posts: 2,697
    Whilst we love our bamboos we have found over the years that non invasive bamboos are actually...invasive.
    If you are able to REALLY curtail them from spreading then they are lovely plants to have but go for other plants such as clematis armandii etc.
    We love bamboos but we are now having to do so much work to stop them them taking over the area.
  • Lee-annemullanLee-annemullan Posts: 9
    Thanks both.  Love the advice! I haven't a clue what I'm doing! Haha!  Ideally i would want something fast growing that can reach another maybe six /10 foot  higher than the fence  or more the higher the better really.  There's an alley behind me so i am considering blocking off anyway due to ASB and potential for opportunists. Would i be better off planting some more trees? Do you have any recommendations?  
  • Cambridgerose12Cambridgerose12 Posts: 1,134
    I wouldn't go for a tree there, it's too close to your cherry. And I second the worries about bamboo--they are a menace. If people getting over the fence is a concern, then how about a plant that would repel them. Ideas could be holly, pyracantha or Berberis julianae. Each of these could be kept within bounds by clipping into a rectangular block against the fence.

    If it were me, I'd certainly be tempted to dig up the concrete and close off the gate, so you could do more exciting things with the space--you could then have a run of 'prickly hedging' along there, if you wanted, and other plants in front.

    There are inexpensive sources of these plants as hedging here and there--just having a quick look, I found:
    https://www.hedgesdirect.co.uk/acatalog/Berberis-julianae.html
    https://www.hedgesdirect.co.uk/acatalog/english_holly.html#aILE

    These would start off small, but they would establish fast. However, it would take five years to get to the hedge height you want. (Buying large specimens can be a mixed blessing as they tend to struggle to establish... and the little ones catch up).
     
  • WilderbeastWilderbeast Posts: 1,415
    Paulownia tomentose trees grow extremely fast, we have 1 that has grown 14ft in 18months. You can prune it very hard every year to a chosen height and it fills out again in no time. Reputed to be the world's fastest growing tree, it also has leaves the size of small car wheels so look very impressive.
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