So I've decided I want to grow some bamboo. Its been an interest of mine for a few years and I've finally decided I should actually try it (ha!)
I am a bit of a hobbyist and I plan on using the bamboo for most predominantly construction style crafts. Eventually I would like to try and make a gazebo style structure out of bamboo and to use the bamboo as a barrier plant between my back fence and the road (I realize that is more than a few years down the line, but for the sake of pointing out my end goals, I figured I would state it.)
My plan is to start the bamboo off in pots so I can better nursery them and transfer it over next spring before the rhizomes start shooting. I'd like to initially start off with seeds for the sake of cost effectiveness and I am in no rush to see massive growth.
I've looked at a few different bamboo species and it seems to me the Guadua (Guadua angustifolia) bamboo is best for construction but other types of bamboo seem to be more popular and grow more densely, like the Moso (Phyllostachys edulis) species.
So, the questions that I have are....
What species of bamboo would you recommend with the idea of creating a barrier while still being able to use it to build things in the yard?
Where is the best place to get a hold of seeds?
Does anyone have any recommendations with regards to my planting plan?
I am looking for some reading (for information sake) with regards to growing and building with bamboo; does anyone have a good reference? (any "go to" books/website? etc.)
New guy selecting first bamboo
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Re: New guy selecting first bamboo
Well I'm quite new with bamboo myself, but much of the information that inspired me I found at the following website
http://www.bamboogarden.com/default.htm
See also
http://www.bamboogarden.com/care.htm
http://www.bamboogarden.com/cold%20hardy%20bamboo.html
http://www.bamboogarden.com/Bamboo%20categories.htm
They have a detailed description of several varieties of bamboo an what kinds of conditions they need to grow in. They also have a listing of the hardier varieties for most of us in the central and northern states as well as some pretty good info on caring for them.
There is also a lot of information on this site and in these forums
Most of the other sites i've found have been less than helpful and geared primarily at sales
That being said there may be other better places out there for information so ill leave those to other posters.
http://www.bamboogarden.com/default.htm
See also
http://www.bamboogarden.com/care.htm
http://www.bamboogarden.com/cold%20hardy%20bamboo.html
http://www.bamboogarden.com/Bamboo%20categories.htm
They have a detailed description of several varieties of bamboo an what kinds of conditions they need to grow in. They also have a listing of the hardier varieties for most of us in the central and northern states as well as some pretty good info on caring for them.
There is also a lot of information on this site and in these forums
Most of the other sites i've found have been less than helpful and geared primarily at sales
That being said there may be other better places out there for information so ill leave those to other posters.
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Re: New guy selecting first bamboo
What bamboo you should grow depends a lot on your climate, and to some degree you latitude (day length). Recommendations for a zone 8 or 9 would be vastly different than zone 6, for instance.