I want to plant some bamboo at my cabin and I am trying to select the best bamboo for the conditions here.
I am in hardiness zone 5. Our minimum temperature is normally 0-10 F. We can get down to -10 F like this past winter and I have seen it as low as -20 but that is quite rare.
On the north side of my lot, there is 30-50% shade and the soil is mostly clay with some sand and dirt mixed in.
I was contemplating Phyllostachys aureosuculata bamboo for this area. It is a running type bamboo so I would have to install rhizome barriers to prevent them from spreading to unwanted areas. This variety grows to 30 feet with 2 inch culms and is cold hardy down to -10 F ($20 per #1 size plant = 1-3 ft). I think they sell these in a manner where you actually get several culms in one bucket and call that one plant.
The west side of my property borders the Elkhorn River which flows north to south so you face the west when looking out over the river. The bank is steep and prone to errosion and is mostly sand, but I have applied many tons of concrete slabs along the shoreline to prevent and deter further errosion. You can no longer see the majority of the concrete as it is covered with silt from flooding and growth of natural vegetation (this was the result of my own engineering design when I laid the concrete slabs). Along this bank I want bamboo to help stabilize the upper layers of soil and sand behind the concrete slabs as a part of my errosion control project. The sun hits this area full strength during the early/mid afternoon to early evening hours (say 1-6 pm). Otherwise it is 75-90% shade. Here I was contemplating planting Phyllostachys atrovaginata which grows to 35 feet with 3 inch culms and is cold hardy down to -10 F. ($25 per #1 size plant). It is also a running type of bamboo so I will have to prevent it from spreading with a rhizome barrier.
Along the southern border of my lot, there is a drainage ditch. It is only 2'-3' in depth, very gently sloped and rarely carries any water. It is planted with grass and I am able to mow it easily with a riding mower. It's purpose is to drain any flood or major rainwater away, so it is just an emergency gutter. The southern rim (bank) of this ditch is the lot line between my propterty and the neighbors. It is 85-95% shaded all day and is a mix of sand, clay and good topsoil. Here I want a nice privacy barrier. I really like my neighbors to my south, but I also like my privacy and I think they would like theirs too.
Here I am contemplating planting two clumping varieties. Clumping varieties don't invade or spread out like the running varieties do. The first one is called Fargesia nitida which grows 12'-15' with 3/4" culms. It is cold hardy down to -20 F.
The second is Sasa oshidensis. The Sasa oshidensis grows 6' with 1/3" culms. It is cold hardy down to -10 F and has broader leaves. Between the two, I think this would make a dense barrier nearly from the ground up to 12 feet high.
Does anyone have any comments or suggestions?
Thanks, Gordy
I am in hardiness zone 5. Our minimum temperature is normally 0-10 F. We can get down to -10 F like this past winter and I have seen it as low as -20 but that is quite rare.
On the north side of my lot, there is 30-50% shade and the soil is mostly clay with some sand and dirt mixed in.
I was contemplating Phyllostachys aureosuculata bamboo for this area. It is a running type bamboo so I would have to install rhizome barriers to prevent them from spreading to unwanted areas. This variety grows to 30 feet with 2 inch culms and is cold hardy down to -10 F ($20 per #1 size plant = 1-3 ft). I think they sell these in a manner where you actually get several culms in one bucket and call that one plant.
The west side of my property borders the Elkhorn River which flows north to south so you face the west when looking out over the river. The bank is steep and prone to errosion and is mostly sand, but I have applied many tons of concrete slabs along the shoreline to prevent and deter further errosion. You can no longer see the majority of the concrete as it is covered with silt from flooding and growth of natural vegetation (this was the result of my own engineering design when I laid the concrete slabs). Along this bank I want bamboo to help stabilize the upper layers of soil and sand behind the concrete slabs as a part of my errosion control project. The sun hits this area full strength during the early/mid afternoon to early evening hours (say 1-6 pm). Otherwise it is 75-90% shade. Here I was contemplating planting Phyllostachys atrovaginata which grows to 35 feet with 3 inch culms and is cold hardy down to -10 F. ($25 per #1 size plant). It is also a running type of bamboo so I will have to prevent it from spreading with a rhizome barrier.
Along the southern border of my lot, there is a drainage ditch. It is only 2'-3' in depth, very gently sloped and rarely carries any water. It is planted with grass and I am able to mow it easily with a riding mower. It's purpose is to drain any flood or major rainwater away, so it is just an emergency gutter. The southern rim (bank) of this ditch is the lot line between my propterty and the neighbors. It is 85-95% shaded all day and is a mix of sand, clay and good topsoil. Here I want a nice privacy barrier. I really like my neighbors to my south, but I also like my privacy and I think they would like theirs too.
Here I am contemplating planting two clumping varieties. Clumping varieties don't invade or spread out like the running varieties do. The first one is called Fargesia nitida which grows 12'-15' with 3/4" culms. It is cold hardy down to -20 F.
The second is Sasa oshidensis. The Sasa oshidensis grows 6' with 1/3" culms. It is cold hardy down to -10 F and has broader leaves. Between the two, I think this would make a dense barrier nearly from the ground up to 12 feet high.
Does anyone have any comments or suggestions?
Thanks, Gordy
We Thai love bamboo shoots, yum.. but I wont it at my house as a plant!
