SolveYourProblem
Hedges Article Series
I
Want To Create
The Perfect Hedge
Bamboo:
A Low Maintenance Hedge
If you’re looking for a low maintenance hedge,
then bamboo might be for you. Though not a traditional hedge,
bamboo is an ideal low-maintenance hedge. If you’re looking
for something a little different or just something that will
not drain your time, energy or wallet, then bamboo might be
the ideal solution for you!
Bamboo is a very
fast growing plant so you will have a hedge
much quicker than with other hedge plants. Within two years
your bamboo should reach about seventy-five percent growth
and then reach one hundred percent in only another two or three
years. Bamboo is also less expensive. If money is a factor,
you can plant the bamboo far apart. Over a year or two the
bamboo will fill in. This might take longer than planting more
bamboo plants closer together, but it is a cost-effective solution
for those strapped for cash.
If you need privacy
or a windscreen right away, you can purchase
and plant bamboo that is anywhere from ten to fifty feet tall
– an instant hedge! Because it does grow so quickly, you may
want to install some type of barrier to control the bamboo’s
spreading.
When considering a bamboo hedge, you need to think about things
like height requirements and your ground space, as well as
the reason for planting the hedge in the first place. There
are different varieties of bamboo you can choose depending
on your space and needs.
Bamboo can be used as a sound
barrier. If you have a problem
with noisy traffic or noisy neighbors, you can drown out some
of that sound with bamboo screening. Your bamboo hedge will
need to be dense (at least eight feet wide) if your main reason
for putting it in place is soundproofing.
Bamboo can also be used as a barrier
against wind. It is really
important though that you select a bamboo that is suited to
your climate because of the different types of winds and some
varieties of bamboo may be unable to withstand extreme hot
or cold winds.
A bamboo hedge can also act as a privacy screen. If you’re
having a problem with prying neighbors, then you might consider
planting a bamboo hedge that will shield you from their prying
eyes.
Bamboo
can also be a security fence for keeping animals or
would-be burglars off your property.
Because of the way bamboo can grow and spread, you’ll want
to think carefully about the placement of your new hedge. If
you plant clumping bamboo close to a neighbor’s fence you may
end up with a plant that peeks through and goes over that neighbor’s
fence. To avoid any neighborhood spats, you may want to install
a fibro board between your new hedge and your neighbor’s fence.
Bamboo can be planted most times of the year in mild climates,
but in colder areas the bamboo plants should go in well in
advance of the winter so they have time to establish themselves
and harden enough to survive the first winter.
When you plant bamboo, it should be done in evenly spaced
rows. Depending on the shape, size, species and look that you
are going for, the bamboo plants should be spaced anywhere
from one to five feet.
For bamboo to thrive, it should be planted in full sun – that’s
where the plants grow quickest and do their best. New plants
need to have enough water, fertilizers and be well protected
from weeds and too much wind.
Once in the ground and properly established, bamboo needs
little more than water and fertilizer.
Though bamboo is low maintenance, you will need to do some
pruning from time to time. About once each year you should
remove any dead or unattractive branches. You may also need
to take out larger bamboo clumps so that newer branches have
enough room to grow and thrive. You can also trim bamboo in
a topiary design or boxwood shape as people do with more traditional
hedge plants.
If you are considering bamboo hedging, you may want to consult
an expert. There are companies out there that specialize in
the planting of bamboo hedges. Because clumping bamboo can
be difficult to control it might be best to look to an expert
if you are unsure about how to plant and control your new bamboo.
