5 Tips To Choose The Right Bamboo For Your Yard
Bamboo can be a beautiful addition to your landscaping. There are a few things to consider if you want to choose the absolute best bamboo variety for your needs.
1. Temperature Tolerance
There is a bamboo variety suited to almost any climate, but only the ones suitable to your climate will thrive in your yard. One way to ensure your bamboo survives is to look at historical data for your area. Find the absolute lowest and absolute highest temperature that has been experienced in your region over the last decade or so, and then choose a bamboo variety that grows well between those two extremes.
2. Root Growth Habit
Bamboos come in two main root habit types, clumping and running. Clumping bamboo produces new root rhizomes in clumps, so they don't easily spread to unwanted areas and they tend to grow into dense stands. Running varieties send out rhizomes far and wide, which means a stand can quickly fill in a larger area but there is a risk of the bamboo becoming invasive in unwanted areas. Fortunately, running types can be contained in pots or with the use of root barriers.
3. Exposure Requirement
Exposure to bamboo mainly refers to sun exposure. Some varieties thrive in shade to partial shade, while others require plenty of sunshine. To determine which is better for your landscaping, check the sun exposure of the intended planting area over the entire growing season. If a variety needs full sun, then it needs plenty of sunlight from spring through late summer so make sure it will receive it in your yard.
4. Mature Size
Space needs are different in every yard. For those seeking privacy screening or a living fence, tall bamboos that can quickly grow to 6 feet or taller may be desired. When a living backdrop for a garden bed or a simple barrier plant is needed, shorter bamboo may be desirable. It can take a bamboo stand several years to reach its mature height, so verify the expected eventual height instead of only referring to the current height of the new nursery plants.
5. Appearance and Purpose
How do you want the bamboo to look in your yard? If you are hoping to make the beautiful segmented canes the focal point, then choose a variety of bamboo with sparser foliage and more defined canes. On the other hand, if the foliage is your favorite part then check out all the color and pattern varieties available. For example, you can find wide leaf and narrow leaf bamboos, or those with interesting color variegation on the foliage or canes.
Visit a bamboo nursery to learn more about the available options for your area.
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