What type to plant..Total Novice

[Kat]

I am posting here with the hopes that all of you knowledgeable people might help me determine the best way to go about planting some bamboo.

The back of my lot is 6 to 8 feet lower than the backyard neighbors.
The property line is 3 feet from the base of the slope.
A new fence is going up on the property line.
I am planning to put a 2-foot garden wall in so that I may have a planter in front of the fence and level out my side of the slope.
Planter dimensions will be 45' wide 3' deep 2' high.

I am hoping to use a clumping type but do I still need to consider any rhizome barriers?

Does any one have suggestions as to what would be a good bamboo.....
1. That grows 15 feet high and is bushy enough to be a privacy screen.

2.Can tolerate full sun for most of the day.

3. Does not shed a lot, as it will be very close to a swimming pool.

HELP!!!!

I would appreciate any thoughts and if anyone knows of a good bamboo seller in the Los Angeles or San Fernando Valley area, I would like to get their name.

[Roy]

Kat,

You've asked a lot of questions that I would have a difficult time answering based upon our different climates.

One thing I can do for you is to provide a link to bamboo growers in California:

http://tinyurl.com/3cmr6k

[Kat]

Thanks for the site info.
I will research the growers listed
Thanks!

[Roy]

Thanks for the site info.
I will research the growers listed
Thanks!

Kat,

Let us know what variety you decide upon and perhaps some pictures during and/or when the project is completed.

[mantis]

L.A. is zone 10, so clumpers will definitely grow. As for a clumper that only gets 15' tall... look at the Bambusa multiplex varieties. B. m. 'Golden Goddess' is bushy, but will top out between 10' and 15'. B. m. 'Alphonse Karr' is very popular, but has the potential to get a bit taller than what you are looking for (25'). The one plant I'm looking at picking up for some screening is B. m. 'Midori Green'. It is a bit shorter than Alphonse Karr, but is also a lot more rare, so it tends to be more expensive.

But as Roy said, your climate is different than both mine and Roy's, so talking to a local nursery would be your best bet.

[magsc21]

Also, they're all going to shed a good bit. They are evergreen, but in early spring they lose about a third of their leaves each year. I've got some fairly close to a pool, and I do empty the skimmers almost every day because there are some leaves or other bamboo bits (very scientific description I know...) that have gotten in the water. But I don't find it any worse than any trees that are around us either.

[Kat]

If I use a clumper, do I still need to put a barrier in?

[mr.mike]

Chances are you'll be fine without one, depending on the clumper. Most of the smaller ones tend to stay where they're planted.
Good luck.

[webgator]

For clumpers there will be no need for bamboo barrier. However, over time you may need to thin the culms out a little to make room for new culms and remove the dead ones, thus maintaining the groves overall health and appearance.

As for varieties, most of the tropical clumpers grow much larger than what you desire. But yes, the multiplex varieties are best for smaller, more dense hedges.

Personally if my yard was 6 feet lower than my neighbors I would be going for at least 35 feet of bamboo height to get much more privacy.

[Kat]

I wish I could go 35 feet but I have power lines at 20 feet above the planting area at the back property line
So far I like the Thamnocalamus tessellatus, Fargesia robusta,Pleioblastus simonii and Bambusa multiplex from the photos I have seen.
I will be keeping the hedge well trimmed and pruned as I do not have a huge yard.

[Kat]

OK, so I spoke with one grower in the area and his suggestion was Bambusa textilis gracilis. It looks pretty and is within the 20 foot height limit but WOW! or OW!!!, it is really pricey.
Anyone out there have it growing? Does it provide a really thick privacy hedge?
Thanks for all the advice!

[bambooweb]

Kat
If you would like to compare prices the sources that have Bambusa textilis var gracilis are listed at: http://bambooweb.info/ShowSources.php?Type=S&BooID=72

Bill

[Roy]

I wish I could go 35 feet but I have power lines at 20 feet above the planting area at the back property line
So far I like the Thamnocalamus tessellatus, Fargesia robusta,Pleioblastus simonii and Bambusa multiplex from the photos I have seen.
I will be keeping the hedge well trimmed and pruned as I do not have a huge yard.

I have my B. textilis planted in the middle of my electric, phone, and cable wires. The wires are covered by plastic, so there shouldn't be a problem. In fact, I just had a dead oak tree fall across the street from me and it took out my cable tv/internet lines. The cable people just today installed new cable right through my B. textilis and they didn't complain at all. ("They" meaning the installers. B. tex. didn't complain either).

This picture was taken when the B. textilis was a little smaller. The wires are more obscured now.

[Kat]

Hello,
I am posting this over 2 years later, but, I wanted to let everyone know what the end result was.
Also, I want to thank everyone here for all the great advice.
It took forever to get my backyard sorted out and remolded.
I ended up with Bambusa textilis var gracilis.
I bought 15 gallon plants as the grower suggested that it would take less time to fill the top of the fence line.
It has only been planted for 2 months and I already have at least 5 to 8 new culms growing tall on each plant.
I am going to love the boo!!!
I would post a photo but I have no idea how to do it.
Thanks again, I will be back for more great advice if anything comes up.