Re: Bamboo & other possibilities

Laura points out a good consideration in which bamboo
is appropriate, as some are considerably less rigid
than others.  Mexican Weeping Bamboo is arching in
habit, and can easily get 15 feet tall and arch out 10
feet from the base, when planted in the ground with
good moist soils.  It is considerably smaller and more
compact if grown with less water.  I still often use
it in more restricted settings, but often have to tie
the culms with support to a fence to keep it out of
the way.

One other thing to mention with bamboo in general.  Be
sure that the wind moving through the leaves or
brushing up against a fence/neighbor's house won't be
an aggravation.  Bamboo is quite noisy, and a good
source for white noise to drown out traffic noise, but
this isn't always a good thing.  I have had more than
one client's neighbors complain about the bamboo
disturbing their sleep at night, and had to either
prune the offending bamboo or move it entirely...

--- Laura Cooper <coopertaggart@earthlink.net> wrote:

> Great info David.
> 
> Only think I would add--I grow the mexican weeping
> here in LA--I love  
> its featheriness and weeping habit--but it might not
> be upright  
> enough for a property border screen. If there is
> enough room it would  
> be a nice choice.
> 
> Laura
> 
> On Aug 20, 2006, at 9:35 AM, david feix wrote:
> 
> > pamela,
> > Of all the bamboos that I have seen grown here in
> > coastal California, perhaps Golden Bamboo,
> > Phyllostachys aurea is the toughest, most drought
> > tolerant one that looks good as a long term
> container
> > plant subject to some abuse, such as
> > infrequent/irregular water and little fertilizer. 
> Of
> > course it looks much better given good treatment. 
> I
> > also recommend Pseudosasa japonica as another
> tough
> > one, but it will show more leaf tip burn without
> > regular water, especially in windy conditions.
> > Mexican Weeping Bamboo,Otatea acuminata v.
> aztectorum,
> > is one of my favorites, but may go partly
> deciduous if
> > you get regular frost in winter, and has no real
> > summer drought tolerance, although in habitat it
> goes
> > all winter without any rain...
> >
> > Are you certain that you really want to use bamboo
> in
> > such containers?  Some of the Podocarpus species,
> > Pittosporums, Agonis, Dodonaea, etc could all work
> > equally well, with less irrigation required.  Also
> > remember that most all Bamboo shed leaves all year
> > round, and are messier than many other plants in
> the
> > garden.
> >
> > --- Pamela Steele
> <pamela@peppercornsfoodservice.com>
> > wrote:
> >
> >> Could anyone give me ideas for evergreen plants
> in
> >> large 4-6 ft deep
> >> concrete planter pots which I have had made for
> the
> >> side of my driveway for
> >> screening purposes.  They are rubber paint lined
> and
> >> have drainage holes.  I
> >> have considered Arizonica Fastigata but I am
> getting
> >> a little worried about
> >> this idea as they ones I have seen are very brown
> >> and tatty. Certainly at
> >> this time of the year, anyway. A suggestion of
> >> Bamboo has been made to me
> >> and I am wondering about suitablity, height,
> >> problems etc.  I know they will
> >> need plenty of water. Are there any particular
> >> varieties with nice
> >> colours,stay in leaf and  which might have a good
> >> chance of growing
> >> successfully here in the hot dry summer of the
> Costa
> >> Blanca.
> >> Thank you
> >> Pamela
> >>
> >
> 
>
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