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jstn254

Black Bamboo

jstn254
10 years ago

So I'm thinking of planting Black Bamboo as a privacy screen in my backyard. I would like to contain them in about an area 15 feet long but only about a foot wide, does this sound plausible to anyone that knows about black bamboo out there? Also, how tall would they grow? How long do they take to get to full heigth? I would like to see them get to about 15 and stop really, maybe 20 or 25 but no taller.

Comments (6)

  • kudzu9
    10 years ago

    More info is needed:

    How do you intend to contain the bamboo?
    Why are you trying to limit the planting to only a foot depth?
    How large will the plants be that you are starting with?

  • jstn254
    Original Author
    10 years ago

    The greenhouse guy has some sort of material that is supposed to keep them contained. I'd like to get as tall as I can to start with, maybe even 10 feet tall? Only a foot wide because I have other trees and plants in the area, and my backyard isn't that big either.

  • kudzu9
    10 years ago

    If your greenhouse guy's material is bamboo barrier, that will work. However, one foot in depth is on the scanty side, and could result in a somewhat patchy screen; two feet would be much better.

    As far as height, bamboo generally take a year or two after it is planted before it starts putting out significant new growth. What you have to understand is that bamboo are not like trees. Once a culm shoots, it typically gets to its full height within two months, and will never get taller or wider. What will get taller will be the new growth that comes up each successive year. Black bamboo has a maximum height of 30 feet, but I've been growing it for 10 years in a temperate, Zone 8 environment and it's just approaching 20 feet. How well yours will do depends on your sun, soil, water, and climate. What Zone are you in?

  • jstn254
    Original Author
    10 years ago

    I'm in Zone 8 in Washington State, my soil has a lot of clay, so drainage isn't all that great. It would be planted just to the north of about a 10 foot fence with lots of pine trees to the south of that fence (neighbors yard). So it wont be getting full sun.

  • jstn254
    Original Author
    10 years ago

    I'm in Zone 8 in Washington State, my soil has a lot of clay, so drainage isn't all that great. It would be planted just to the north of about a 10 foot fence with lots of pine trees to the south of that fence (neighbors yard). So it wont be getting full sun.

  • kudzu9
    10 years ago

    I'm in WA state, too, and have a lot of clay in my soil as well. I would say that it will do ok for you, and it will be evergreen, although the lack of full sun will make it size up more slowly.