Posts: 214
Threads: 10
Joined: Jul 2017
Aloha kakou!
I am wanting to plant bamboo along the perimeter of my property (particularly along my nosy neighbor b****'s side) as a natural fence/hedge/barrier. I've learned the "gracilis" variety is preferable for that, as it is fast-growing, but am finding that trying to buy bamboo to plant is, um...very pricey. Does anyone have any alternative ideas or any source for obtaining bamboo reasonably/or even maybe...free? Am willing to do the work of digging some up myself if the opportunity presents.
Mahalo!
Posts: 1,524
Threads: 12
Joined: Oct 2016
If you can find someone that has this species willing to part with a few culms, the cut pieces laid horizontally and half way buried in the ground should root readily at the nodes. Use younger culms that have emerged within the past year or two, not older ones.
Posts: 214
Threads: 10
Joined: Jul 2017
Thanks for that tip! I appreciate your sharing it! :-)
Posts: 44
Threads: 0
Joined: Dec 2020
Planting bamboo can have unintended consequences, so it's important to be cautious. On my property, the prior owner planted four species of clumping bamboo, including two types with thorns and needles. One clump grew to be 35-40 feet tall with 2" thorns, eventually interweaving with other clumps to form a massive, 10-foot diameter clump. Removing them was a major hassle. Another species, a yellow bamboo, and a green variety that sheds its leaves, were also problematic with trimming them back and the leaves. I've already removed four massive clumps and the rest require ongoing maintenance. I just removed a large clump 2 weeks ago, and given time I will remove them all.
Posts: 214
Threads: 10
Joined: Jul 2017
I had heard to avoid the clumping varieties, and this is a good explanation why it is so bad! Thanks for passing that along!
Posts: 2,485
Threads: 10
Joined: Feb 2008
(08-14-2023, 03:43 AM)punikahakaiferret Wrote: I had heard to avoid the clumping varieties, and this is a good explanation why it is so bad! Thanks for passing that along!
Whoa there. The alternative is the running varieties which are much worse because of how they spread.
Posts: 155
Threads: 13
Joined: Jun 2020
I have a similar situation. I figured this is closely related to this bamboo topic and didn't need to start another thread. Don't mean to hijack this. Anyone care to brainstorm other fairly fast growing vegetation that can be used as a privacy screen that doesn't become a hassle in a few years?
Right now I'm going with a couple rows of Ti leaves, money tree, jc and warnakai (sp?) and plan to expand from there. All grow easily and if continual topping is done they tend to bulk up and make more of sight obstruction.
Posts: 8,489
Threads: 1,033
Joined: May 2003
08-16-2023, 05:11 PM
(This post was last modified: 08-16-2023, 05:11 PM by Rob Tucker.)
Podocarpus
Posts: 214
Threads: 10
Joined: Jul 2017
Wow! Thanks for more input, and for clarifying and correcting info...nothing is ever as "easy" as it seems when trying to "simply" create a natural barrier, I guess! Yikes...
Witness all the obnoxious cane/guinea/elephant/blahblah/whatever grasses that were brought in to supposedly be an "ornamental barrier", eh? Add to that the various trees and shrubs that are now such an invasive problem? Ugh. Seems nothing is simple here, and especially not when it comes to ground cover...um, again, yikes.
Thanks again to all who have taken the time to reply.
Things are definitely harder and more pressing elsewhere.
Be well, all. Take care. :-)
Posts: 415
Threads: 37
Joined: Aug 2010
09-21-2023, 05:16 PM
(This post was last modified: 09-21-2023, 05:17 PM by dobanion.)
I was planning on using Alphonse Karr variety of bamboo for my privacy hedges. I think plant 4-5' apart. I know several places on the island carry it.
The invasive grasses (guinea and fountain mainly) were brought in for livestock. They produce in ample amounts, have high protein content, and are very tasty to most livestock. Once you take the livestock away, then they become a huge issue.
