perennialnut
3rd July 2005, 03:03 PM
Today I finally planted bamboo ornamentally. I planted a 3 gallon pot in a half whiskey barrel planter. I pruned back the plant to 4 or 5 of the straightest most upright culms. I combined equal parts of builders sand, composted cow manure and topsoil for potting medium. I kept the soil level about two inches below the barrels rim. After it was planted, I fertilized with a palm full of 13-13-13, watered deeply and mulched with pine bark nuggets. I didn't make any drainage holes in the barrel. I'm hoping that water will flow sufficiently throught the slats. I'm afraid drain holes would allow rhizomes to escape.
I'm only planting in a container because i want to grow bamboo ornamentally. My property is a 1/2 acre in metro Atlanta, which is north Georgia. Planting a grove or allowing it to spread would not be feasible for me. I hope that it can do well containerized. I'm not too worried about the cantainer freezing in the winter, containers of other plants survive. I use a combination of mulch, wrapping containers, or covering plants with burlap during frost when neccessary. My concern is keeping it moist during the summer.
All I've read, observed or been told made me decide not to try planting in the ground with a barrier. I've seen five other locations in this area where bamboo is being grown. Two restuarnts in Atlanta have them growing. One out of the ground, the other with it also in whiskey barrels. The atlanta Botanical garden has them in demo plots. I understand rhizomes escape sometimes, but they're kept under control. A garden center has also planted it in raised beds and allows it to run freely. they maintain that barriers really aren't effective. I saw outside a fenced yard where apparently a planting has escaped and it's spreading all around somebody's property.
I hope to attach some photos as my container matures. I'm really excited about this. Bamboo is a wonderful and beautiful plant. If this is successful I plan to do more containers with other varieties.
I'm only planting in a container because i want to grow bamboo ornamentally. My property is a 1/2 acre in metro Atlanta, which is north Georgia. Planting a grove or allowing it to spread would not be feasible for me. I hope that it can do well containerized. I'm not too worried about the cantainer freezing in the winter, containers of other plants survive. I use a combination of mulch, wrapping containers, or covering plants with burlap during frost when neccessary. My concern is keeping it moist during the summer.
All I've read, observed or been told made me decide not to try planting in the ground with a barrier. I've seen five other locations in this area where bamboo is being grown. Two restuarnts in Atlanta have them growing. One out of the ground, the other with it also in whiskey barrels. The atlanta Botanical garden has them in demo plots. I understand rhizomes escape sometimes, but they're kept under control. A garden center has also planted it in raised beds and allows it to run freely. they maintain that barriers really aren't effective. I saw outside a fenced yard where apparently a planting has escaped and it's spreading all around somebody's property.
I hope to attach some photos as my container matures. I'm really excited about this. Bamboo is a wonderful and beautiful plant. If this is successful I plan to do more containers with other varieties.