Bamboo: The Unconventional Hedge

Articles on Hedges | Topics: hedges, hedge, bushes, bush

by Walda Livingston

If you're looking for a low maintenance hedge, then bamboo might be for you. Though not a traditional hedge, bamboo is an ideal low-maintenance hedge. If you're looking for something a little different or just something that will not drain your time, energy or wallet, then bamboo might be the ideal solution for you!

Bamboo is a very fast growing plant so you will have a hedge much quicker than with other hedge plants. Within two years your bamboo should reach about seventy-five percent growth and then reach one hundred percent in only another two or three years. Bamboo is also less expensive. If money is a factor, you can plant the bamboo far apart. Over a year or two the bamboo will fill in. This might take longer than planting more bamboo plants closer together, but it is a cost-effective solution for those strapped for cash.

If you need privacy or a windscreen right away, you can purchase and plant bamboo that is anywhere from ten to fifty feet tall – an instant hedge! Because it does grow so quickly, you may want to install some type of barrier to control the bamboo's spreading.

When considering a bamboo hedge, you need to think about things like height requirements and your ground space, as well as the reason for planting the hedge in the first place. There are different varieties of bamboo you can choose depending on your space and needs.

Bamboo can be used as a sound barrier. If you have a problem with noisy traffic or noisy neighbors, you can drown out some of that sound with bamboo screening. Your bamboo hedge will need to be dense (at least eight feet wide) if your main reason for putting it in place is soundproofing.

Bamboo can also be used as a barrier against wind. It is really important though that you select a bamboo that is suited to your climate because of the different types of winds and some varieties of bamboo may be unable to withstand extreme hot or cold winds.

A bamboo hedge can also act as a privacy screen. If you're having a problem with prying neighbors, then you might consider planting a bamboo hedge that will shield you from their prying eyes.

Bamboo can also be a security fence for keeping animals or would-be burglars off your property.

Because of the way bamboo can grow and spread, you'll want to think carefully about the placement of your new hedge. If you plant clumping bamboo close to a neighbor's fence you may end up with a plant that peeks through and goes over that neighbor's fence. To avoid any neighborhood spats, you may want to install a fibro board between your new hedge and your neighbor's fence.

Bit of History

She said, “as the light on the dashboard ran
Along the bushes at the roadside a man’s face.
You must have seen it too.”

—Robert Frost (1874–1963)

Bamboo can be planted most times of the year in mild climates, but in colder areas the bamboo plants should go in well in advance of the winter so they have time to establish themselves and harden enough to survive the first winter.

When you plant bamboo, it should be done in evenly spaced rows. Depending on the shape, size, species and look that you are going for, the bamboo plants should be spaced anywhere from one to five feet.

For bamboo to thrive, it should be planted in full sun – that's where the plants grow quickest and do their best. New plants need to have enough water, fertilizers and be well protected from weeds and too much wind.

Once in the ground and properly established, bamboo needs little more than water and fertilizer.

Though bamboo is low maintenance, you will need to do some pruning from time to time. About once each year you should remove any dead or unattractive branches. You may also need to take out larger bamboo clumps so that newer branches have enough room to grow and thrive. You can also trim bamboo in a topiary design or boxwood shape as people do with more traditional hedge plants.

If you are considering bamboo hedging, you may want to consult an expert. There are companies out there that specialize in the planting of bamboo hedges. Because clumping bamboo can be difficult to control it might be best to look to an expert if you are unsure about how to plant and control your new bamboo.

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Please note: All personal opinions expressed in the "Bamboo: The Unconventional Hedge" article belong to the contributing author and are not necessarily shared by FlowersPlantsGardening.com.

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