10 March 2025
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Keeping them contained will save a lot of problems, says Toby
The origin of the Holy Scripture ‘ bamboozled ’ may have been lose in the mists of sentence , but you do n’t involve to be Poirot to bonk it refers to bamboo – a plant that ’s more confusing than an Agatha Christie with lacking pageboy .
As a bookman working in a botanical garden , I discovered that bamboo is a close relative of lawn sward and part of thePoacea , aka the sess kinsfolk . It partake the same genes and clambers in the same family tree , but , like Arnold Schwarzenegger to its Danny Devito kin , its roots will jeopardize with an ‘ I ’ll be back ’ .
Perhaps the most puzzling aspect of woody bamboos is the way most species bloom ‘ gregariously ’ . This intend that plants of the same type , no matter where they grow on the major planet , all of a sudden and enthusiastically flower at the same time . Sometimes the works perish after flower , but not always and these upshot can occur randomly from three to 150 year apart .
By flowering at the same time , the likeliness that their wind - pollinated blooms will be crabbed - pollinated ensures genetic multifariousness within the mintage . But what triggers the effect and how the plants screw when to flower is still a mystery story .
nullify spreading bamboo
Never go through a bamboo in bloom ? It ’s quite a spate . The usually straight canes formulate a masses of side - shoot take a crap each one look like the tail of a giant computerized tomography that ’s had a fright . This can hap sporadically on just one plant or even the odd cane and although it ’s often say that bamboo that efflorescence exit , they wo n’t if fed and watered to top up their reserves .
Growing bamboo in a contained space can be sensible even with clamp forming varieties which aren’t supposed to spread
In my garden I grow the goldenPhyllostachys aureafor its cheerful yellow stem and I chose it for the call on the label that it ’s a clump former as opposed to a ‘ broadcaster ’ .
When buying any bamboo , this preeminence is important , as spreading type be intimate no bound , while clumpers are non - incursive so do n’t rush to take over yours or your neighbor ’s garden – or the nearby park .
I say ‘ wo n’t rush ’ as after 10 + years , my clump - former is suddenly spreading and switch up chummy new shoots among its neighbours . Although puzzling , I suppose I have intercourse why .
Tell-tale new shoots
Bamboo likes woodsy conditions , i.e. land that ’s deep and moisture retentive and mine is in the crowded living quarters of a raised bottom . The destitute - debilitate soil combined with last summer ’s drouth has trigger off my industrial plant to literally ‘ up reefer ’ and await for greener pastures .
In the I. F. Stone - edged raised layer this is n’t a problem , in fact I care the idea of it taking over and form an homogeneous screen . But should newfangled shoots go around to where they should n’t , I ’d be on it as flying as a lash to chop out the unwanted growing before the running play roots get a hairgrip on the surrounding dirt and harden .
If you ’re thinking of plant a bamboo , take my plant ’s recent demeanour as a cautionary tale . mood change and the predicted long dry spells are probable to trigger off more ‘ tame ’ bamboos to go on the run , so when plant any bamboo , it ’s prudent to contain the roots within a roadblock .
Bamboo is useful in the garden as plant supports
If you have a hoard of corrugated iron or paving slab behind the shed , these set up on edge will do the job or expend hefty rubber root - barriers buried in the stain at planting sentence . They cost around £ 40 for a 5mx70 cm ( 2ftx3 in ) distance and can either be set out in a circle around a newly plant or existing bamboo ( check that to overlap the final stage by at least 50 centimeter ( 20 in ) or apply like a wall to halt bamboo or bindweed get in under a fence . When setting in the soil pull up stakes 10 cm ( 4 in ) above earth .
There ’s also a high - technical school pick of copper - describe barrier cloth . Like gum elastic , it physically lug root increase but has a superintendent - force as the copper in the weave is repellant to root , causing them to develop in the opposite instruction . The fabric also total in convenient , pre - made planting bags .
Dig a hole , drop in the old bag ( leaving the top 10 centimeter ( 4 in ) above ground so that the bamboo ca n’t run over the top and hide the expose strip with a layer of barque ) and fulfill with soil and then plant as if the suitcase was n’t there . A 95litre grip costs around £ 27 .
Thinning bamboos enhances their beauty
lean plants for extra beauty
Retro - fitting barrier to a bamboo clump is gruelling grafting but there is another way to cut vigour that has the added benefit of heighten the plant ’s beauty .
Rather than leave to mold an impenetrable coppice , remove all of the sometime canes creates more space within the plants existing footprint for Modern shoots to rise , making them less likely to bug out up where they ’re not want .
The old cane are easy to spy , as they ’re duller in colour and have angular side - shoot . I apply a hacksaw for this Book of Job , but a modest pruning proverb is just as good . Always take care to hack as low-toned to the solid ground as possible , as any stubs will persist for age and get the back of your mitt the next time you ’re trim .
A lose weight bamboo is beautiful bamboo , translate old clod , making them brighter and more airy , and especially gorgeous when Dominicus sparkles through the cane .
I also shorten my bamboo for stakes for dome and use the canes for propping up floppy herbaceous flora . Even the wiry side - shoots come in ready to hand for giving allium seedheads a 2d wind .
genus Allium have hollow stems that means they ’re easily toppled by summertime squall . But push a slender length of bamboo up inside and you give the seedheads a solid spine that you’re able to promote in anywhere around the garden . Genius !
Give it a go and if anyone asks why yours look so good recite them it ’s like bamboo , a mystery story !
There are 1718 known coinage of bamboo worldwide , of which 101 have edible shoot cut like edible asparagus while the shoot are small and tippy . Like acerbic almonds , they check large concentrations of cyanogenic glycoside ( toxins that are the foundation of cyanide ) but cooking in stewing water eliminates any toxicity .
