Bamboo hedges
Most bamboo plants can be grown into hedges. The main advantages of a bamboo hedge is that it is formed very rapidly, the leaves are persistent, it is easy to look after and homogeneity is guaranteed.
Rapidity of growth
Few plants can rival the bamboo as to speed of growth. One cannot say exactly how much taller a recently planted bamboo hedge will grow in one year, since that depends on local conditions (the soil, the climate) and on the variety as well as the way it is looked after. One can reasonably expect that some average-sized or giant varieties could grow one meter per year.
Persistence of leaves
Do not worry if your bamboo leaves go yellow and fall ; they are renewed progressively every spring. This privilege does not affect only bamboo plants. However, they can be differentiated from their rivals by the practically spring-like colour and lightness of their foliage. There is no comparison with coniferous needles or thick, wrinkled laurel and privet leaves.
Facility of upkeep
A bamboo hedge can grow freely or be pruned. It can be pruned to keep its height down, or its sides in, or both.
The advantage of bamboo growing is that the plants needs pruning only once a year. This is carried out when the new stems have finished growing, just when the leaves develop. Another not inconsiderable advantage is the height of pruning, which can vary from year to year. Bamboo plants don’t mind being pruned for example to a height of 2 metres one year, 3 meters the following year, and another year 2.5 meters. However, the exception of dwarf bamboo trees must be noted ; they can be cut down by 5 or 10 cm just before the shoots start to grow.
Guaranteed homogeneity
One of the main risks in growing a fine uniform thuya, cypress, privet, laurel or other shrub hedge is that one or several plants might start to wither. The harmonious appearance is lost and sometimes it takes years to repair the gap, especially if the hedge is a few dozen years old. This sort of incident cannot take place with creeping bamboo (unlike cespitose plants). Suppose an accident happens : a tree or a big branch falls and damages the hedge in one particular spot. All that has to be done is to remove the cause of the damage and cut the damaged culms. The hedge will grow again exactly as it was before in record time, without anything having to be planted. We advise our clients to mix a minimum of two bamboo species or varieties in every hedge, for aesthetic reasons.
Rapidity of growth
Few plants can rival the bamboo as to speed of growth. One cannot say exactly how much taller a recently planted bamboo hedge will grow in one year, since that depends on local conditions (the soil, the climate) and on the variety as well as the way it is looked after. One can reasonably expect that some average-sized or giant varieties could grow one meter per year.
Persistence of leaves
Do not worry if your bamboo leaves go yellow and fall ; they are renewed progressively every spring. This privilege does not affect only bamboo plants. However, they can be differentiated from their rivals by the practically spring-like colour and lightness of their foliage. There is no comparison with coniferous needles or thick, wrinkled laurel and privet leaves.
Facility of upkeep
A bamboo hedge can grow freely or be pruned. It can be pruned to keep its height down, or its sides in, or both.
The advantage of bamboo growing is that the plants needs pruning only once a year. This is carried out when the new stems have finished growing, just when the leaves develop. Another not inconsiderable advantage is the height of pruning, which can vary from year to year. Bamboo plants don’t mind being pruned for example to a height of 2 metres one year, 3 meters the following year, and another year 2.5 meters. However, the exception of dwarf bamboo trees must be noted ; they can be cut down by 5 or 10 cm just before the shoots start to grow.
Guaranteed homogeneity
One of the main risks in growing a fine uniform thuya, cypress, privet, laurel or other shrub hedge is that one or several plants might start to wither. The harmonious appearance is lost and sometimes it takes years to repair the gap, especially if the hedge is a few dozen years old. This sort of incident cannot take place with creeping bamboo (unlike cespitose plants). Suppose an accident happens : a tree or a big branch falls and damages the hedge in one particular spot. All that has to be done is to remove the cause of the damage and cut the damaged culms. The hedge will grow again exactly as it was before in record time, without anything having to be planted. We advise our clients to mix a minimum of two bamboo species or varieties in every hedge, for aesthetic reasons.
Indoor bamboo plants
Indoor bamboo plants are all the rage, but they are very delicate. Two parameters must be considered : light and hygrometry.
Veranda bamboo plants
Here too bamboo plants grow marvellously well. They usually have plenty of light. If the hygrometry is insufficient, it can be raised by planting a variety of plants, especially bamboo plants which will raise the ambient humidity rate through evapo-transpiration. A veranda is the ideal place for delicate bamboo species such as Bambusa (B.multiplex Golden Goddess, B. multiplex Alphonse Karr, B. Vulgaris Striata), with a fine foliage.