Bamboo Hedge
Things to Consider When Choosing a Bamboo Hedge
A bamboo hedge can provide an attractive and effective screen in your garden or backyard. Most kinds of bamboo are fast growing and because they have year round foliage they make for good fences and hedges. The fast growth makes it a quick addition to a landscape and it is also fairly economical for the coverage it provides. Bamboo can be purchased in varying heights depending on your requirement and this allows for some immediate customization. The fact that bamboo does not need trimming or excessive maintenance makes it another good choice for a hedge.
If you are installing a bamboo hedge or privacy screen, you have a wide variety of bamboo to choose from. There is bamboo in varying heights, density and width and you choice will be determined by how much view you want screened or covered.
Bamboo is fairly adaptable and grows in any kind of soil although it does not do well in a desert setting. The soil can range from sandy to clay but where it is sandy or loamy soil, feeding and watering will have to be carefully monitored. The recommended soil pH for bamboo is between 5.5 and 6.5 which is in the slightly acidic range. Lime should be avoided for most bamboo and species that are able to tolerate drier conditions seem to handle higher pH in the soil. If planting bamboo near the ocean or seafront it is important to note that bamboo is not naturally salt tolerant; it may be a good idea to plant a bamboo hedge at least 100-150 yards away from the water. There are some varieties such as Temple and Arrow that are known to handle salt better than other species.
The bamboo needs water at regular intervals and this is particularly true in the summer months. Bamboo seems to thrive in swampy and marshy locations and so the rim or a pond or stream is ideal for bamboo plants although it is worth noting that bamboo is not a good pond plant for those seeking to grow a bamboo in a pond. If you live in a region where there is plenty of summer rain, your bamboo will be fine. If you live n a place with dry summer, you should make it a point to water the bamboo that you plant. There are special bamboo fertilizers available in the market that you can use to ensure quick and even growth of your bamboo hedge. It is recommended that bamboo should be heavily mulched as this is a good way to retain moisture in the soil.
The spacing of your bamboo hedge will very much depend on the exact type of bamboo you choose. There are running and spreading species of bamboo that can be spaced widely apart during planting as they will fill out the space over the next few years. Medium and tall bamboo are generally placed 2.5 to 3 feet apart and dwarf bamboo is planted about 18 inches apart. You should remember that you can buy bamboo at any height you need and you need to budget more for taller plants as you get an immediate screen.
Ability to handle sun exposure, hardiness to cold, and tolerance to heat and humidity are useful characteristics in a species that you choose for a bamboo hedge. A hedge is not something that you can pamper by always providing optimal conditions and it is best to choose a variety of bamboo that is adaptable to varied climatic conditions.
Bamboos, in general, take about 5-10 years to grow to their potential listed height and this is something to keep in mind when planning a bamboo hedge. Also the maximum listed height will be reached only under really optimal growing conditions and those who are envisioning a long-term landscaping plan should be prepared for the fact that their bamboo hedge may grow anywhere from 75 to 90 percent of its expected height. Factor in density and erectness also while choosing a bamboo species that works for you.
Among one of the known issues with introducing bamboo in a garden is that it can spread easily. Consider the possibility of installing a bamboo rhizome barrier when planting your bamboo hedge.