Planting a wall of bamboo?

My friend has an annoying neighbor and wants to plant bamboo across her fence to block their view.

1. Best bamboo for this About 10 to 15 feet high.

2. Easily maintainable

3. Good, thick coverage

4. Priced low if possible

Planting a wall of bamboo?
I disagree with the fact that you agree with the opinions of a few that know nothing about the growth habits of bamboo.



Certainly if a running species is planted without the proper precautions it can become "invasive". That is why I have planted in my yard "neighbor friendly" bamboo, in other words clumpers. They slowly grow outward and can be trimmed ground level to keep the stand from getting too wide. They require little maintenance and in a few short years will be reaching their maximum height.



For a height of 10 to 15 feet, shrubs would be a nightmare to keep pruned to maintain a pleasant appearance. I can't imagine trying to stand on a ladder with hedge clippers and trimming them!



With many varieties of clumping bamboo to choose from I would plant bamboo before anything else. Two small divisions of bamboo can cover over 16 linear feet of fence and be 20 feet tall in less than 3 years! I know of no shrubs that will achieve that goal in such a short time!



Of course your climate will determine which bamboo will do best. There are tropical clumpers that prefer temps above the mid 20's, some that withstand temps into the 10's, and yet others that withstand tmeps below freezing.



Some to consider would be B. Multiplex Alphonse Karr, B. mutabilis, and Fargesia Nitida.



The bamboos to avoid would be any bamboo that starts with "phyllostachys" as these are runners and MUST be contained in a residential environment.



Plus on the talk of cost, you may find someone in your area that is willing to give you divisions for FREE!
Reply:It will take years for anything to grow to a considerable size. She's better off putting up a higher privacy fence.
Reply:I don't recommend bamboo because once you plant it, it is a very agressive plant and can become uncontrollable, even sprouting on the other side of the fence. If the neighbor is easily annoyed as well as annoying, this could be bad. Bamboo can take over your whole backyard if you aren't careful.



Try some small trees or large shrubs instead. Another option, extend the height of the fence with something decorative. Go to a local nursery, Lowes, or Home Depot and ask a professional for their opinion.
Reply:I highly disagree with bamboo being easily maintainable. A friend of mine had bamboo at her fence line and it was hard to keep it from taking over the yard. Might want to consider evergreen bushes. They are easier to maintain, because they won't try to take over the yard. They grow well in sunlight with ample watering.
Reply:not all bamboos are invasive and monstrous to control. go for the "multiplex" species and avoid the others, "ventricosa" and "valgaris" as they are the ones everone is thinking of when they warn you off bamboo.
Reply:I agree with the above answer. I feel that Bamboo is more of a nuisance. It will take over quickly and is very hard to manage once it does. I would recommend a leyland cypress for this application. It will take a few years, but they grow into a nice fence line, and they look good as well
Reply:Scott %26amp; Ellarosa are correct. Not all Bamboo is invasive.



Bamboo is a beautiful addition to any yard and perfect for screening and privacy as you describe for your friend. There are quite a few nurseries on line but I have had good experience with http://www.bamboogarden.com



I had a second story deck and a dump of a yeard behind me that I needed to screen.



Fair warning... Bamboo is not cheap.
Reply:Please read this first:



http://www.organicgardening.com/feature/...



There are other evergreen shrubs and tall trees that will make a good wall for your friend. Many are fast growing.



http://www.cdr3.com/growers/



http://www.fast-growing-trees.com/Privac...

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