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[SG] Bamboo

Hello everybody, and especially Harry Able.  My bamboo (Phyllostachys
nigra) is refoliated, just as Harry said it would, and the foliage on the
older stalks (they had been squashed to the ground by snow) whose leaves
were not dropped, but were tattered and frostbitten, are greening up and
looking better.  This morning I noted four FAST-growing stalks, two of
which had culms of at least 1" in diameter.  One was not noticeable above
10" undergrowth 2 days ago, but can't be missed today - it is about 4'
tall!  I took my husband out to see it, and remarked, "See - this plant is
not escaping its barrier (6" corrugated metal); I knew Harry was wrong."
My apologies; tonight I spied two more stalks, grown a few feet past the
barrier, both of which had the same thick culms and one being a little over
10' tall!  Fortunately for the hostas I planted in front, the bamboo is
running toward the shadiest area to the rear; unfortunately, it's exactly
on the property line and headed for the neighbor's yard.  Remember these
are postage-stamp sized properties and there is no room for a green menace.
 Oh, well; live and learn.

The first winter I had the plant, the culms all died, except the shortest
that were covered with a heavy mulch.  This winter was milder, except for
one week in February, so all culms survived.  The older culms were bent to
the ground and did not defoliate, but those that remained upright did (they
were all new growth from that summer), I suppose from dessication.  My
question therefore is this:  in the fall, shall I bend all the culms down
out of the wind and toss a little straw over them?  I can't decide if the
defoliation occurred because the young plants were less resistant to
assault or if it was a result of their upright position.  Thanks for your
ideas.


Sheila Smith
mikecook@pipeline.com
Niles, MI  USA, Z 5/6
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