Zone 7b Arky with newbie ?

[seti]

I live in Downtown Little Rock with a rather urban view out my backyard. I'd like to make that view completely disappear. It would also be great if it could absorb some of the sound pollution.

The back fence is about 60 feet wide across the back. I'd like to put a rhizome barrier across the back and 10 - 15 feet in depth. It looks like I need about 140-150 ft of barrier. Fortunately I have a friend with a small tractor to help install it.

I'd like to pick a bamboo that grows fast and obscures the view from 8ft to as high as it can. I have been looking at Henon, Nigra, and Moso. I haven't seen these in person so I don't know if they can grow and block the view well enough from 8ft and up.

The plan is to plant the Bamboo across the back with some of my banana trees and giant elephant ears in front of the bamboo. This way in the warmer weather it will have a very tropical feel. If I can't live in the tropics I should at least be able to make it look like it.

Now for the questions. Do you think Henon, Nigra or Moso would fit my needs? Are there any other bamboos I have overlooked? How many bamboos will it take to get this screen started? I have placed ads on Craigslist looking for people with Bamboo groves in Arkansas but so far no responses.

Any advice much appreciated.

Thank you

[seti]

Here is a pic of the backyard and the view I wish to block. The back part of the yard is the last part to be landscaped.

http://lh5.ggpht.com/iain42/SEH5jG774JI/AAAAAAAADDU/2YIxIUvqaRs/s800/BKYRD.jpg

[bambookid524]

Those types would work, but they get HUGE! They will cover much more than that 8 ft you say, but that doesn't mean they wouldn't look good. All three of those are great, beautiful bamboos. If you kept them contained aas in Rhizome pruning, barrier or a trench they will fill in the area, but those 3 species are pretty vigorous, Moso being the most. If you are looking for a nice screen, you would do good going with Phyllostachys Bissetii, Phyllostachys Aureosulcata, or Phyllostachys Aurea.

Let me know of any more questions you have.

-Steve

[wannabRN]

Hello, do you know where Newport is ? and I am about 15 miles east of Newport, I think I am less than 100 miles from you...

Have you ever considered Phyllostachys rubromarginata ? or Phyllostachys bissetii bamboo ? the red margin can grow to about 30' tall and about 3" thick and the Bissetii can grow to about 20' tall but only can grow to about one inch in diameter, you also can consider Semiarundinaria fastuosa, they can get to about 30' tall as well and fast spreading... and I have all 3 of those, and I have Moso, Nigra and Henon as well, but none of them can grow as fast and spreading fast as those 3 mentioned above.

I planted 3 five gallon plants of Red margin to cover an area of about 30' long in the Spring of 2006 and now it completely cover the 30' area and about 15' tall already, I will send some picture to you and let you see, and I planted some Semiarundinaria fastuosa in the fall of 2005, and it's now cover an area 20'x30' and you can't even see throught it! and I have a natural fence about 100' long which I mixed planted the Semiarundinaria fastuosa, the Bissetii, and some Nigra and Golden, and Moso, the Moso didn't spread at all in 3 years, the Black acted the same, the Henon didn't grow too much after 3 years.

I only started growing bamboo since 2005 and far from being an expert, but this is my 2 cents, you are welcome to come to see my bamboos, the tallest bamboo I have is Phyllostachys bambusoides, I had it since 2005 and now they are about 20' tall and over 2" thick! and I have a nice grove of Castillon Bamboo and Castillon Inversa also have 2 stands of P Aurea Koi... but those will not serve the purpose for you ...

[seti]

Those types would work, but they get HUGE! They will cover much more than that 8 ft you say, but that doesn't mean they wouldn't look good. All three of those are great, beautiful bamboos. If you kept them contained aas in Rhizome pruning, barrier or a trench they will fill in the area, but those 3 species are pretty vigorous, Moso being the most. If you are looking for a nice screen, you would do good going with Phyllostachys Bissetii, Phyllostachys Aureosulcata, or Phyllostachys Aurea.

Let me know of any more questions you have.

-Steve

I prefer the running bamboo. I don't mind huge bamboo. My girlfriend is an artist and is excited about working with timber bamboo. It also seems that it would produce enough for a screen and for use in her art projects.

The rhizome barrier hopefully goes in this year. I found bamboo plantation has 40mil 30in for 1.74 ft. Out of the bamboos suggested I like the golden. I must admit I am having a hard time choosing between Henon, Moso, and Nigra the black bamboo.

Thanks!

[seti]

Hello, do you know where Newport is ? and I am about 15 miles east of Newport, I think I am less than 100 miles from you...

Have you ever considered Phyllostachys rubromarginata ? or Phyllostachys bissetii bamboo ? the red margin can grow to about 30' tall and about 3" thick and the Bissetii can grow to about 20' tall but only can grow to about one inch in diameter, you also can consider Semiarundinaria fastuosa, they can get to about 30' tall as well and fast spreading... and I have all 3 of those, and I have Moso, Nigra and Henon as well, but none of them can grow as fast and spreading fast as those 3 mentioned above.

I planted 3 five gallon plants of Red margin to cover an area of about 30' long in the Spring of 2006 and now it completely cover the 30' area and about 15' tall already, I will send some picture to you and let you see, and I planted some Semiarundinaria fastuosa in the fall of 2005, and it's now cover an area 20'x30' and you can't even see throught it! and I have a natural fence about 100' long which I mixed planted the Semiarundinaria fastuosa, the Bissetii, and some Nigra and Golden, and Moso, the Moso didn't spread at all in 3 years, the Black acted the same, the Henon didn't grow too much after 3 years.

I only started growing bamboo since 2005 and far from being an expert, but this is my 2 cents, you are welcome to come to see my bamboos, the tallest bamboo I have is Phyllostachys bambusoides, I had it since 2005 and now they are about 20' tall and over 2" thick! and I have a nice grove of Castillon Bamboo and Castillon Inversa also have 2 stands of P Aurea Koi... but those will not serve the purpose for you ...

Actually I did tech support for Kids First which has/had an office in Newport but I have only been there a couple of times.

I am unfamiliar with Phyllostachys rubromarginata and Phyllostachys bissetii but they look interesting. I really like the look of Semiarundinaria fastuosa. It sounds like you have your own Bamboo farm. I was hoping to get some larger bamboos thinking that would help them spread faster. Do you think this would help?

You reports on my three favorite Bamboos is a discouraging. I wonder what is up with that as I have seen picks of huge groves in the south. I would love to see pics of your bamboos. Do you have a web photo gallery? Also it would be great to see them in person!!! Thank you for the offer very kind. I may take you up on that.

THANK YOU!!

[wannabRN]

Actually I did tech support for Kids First which has/had an office in Newport but I have only been there a couple of times.

I am unfamiliar with Phyllostachys rubromarginata and Phyllostachys bissetii but they look interesting. I really like the look of Semiarundinaria fastuosa. It sounds like you have your own Bamboo farm. I was hoping to get some larger bamboos thinking that would help them spread faster. Do you think this would help?

You reports on my three favorite Bamboos is a discouraging. I wonder what is up with that as I have seen picks of huge groves in the south. I would love to see pics of your bamboos. Do you have a web photo gallery? Also it would be great to see them in person!!! Thank you for the offer very kind. I may take you up on that.

THANK YOU!!

You are making the right choice of Bamboo Plantation, I ordered 5 plants from Jim Bonner in Bamboo plantation in 2005, and every one of them survived, and his barrier price is best amount all those suppliers! the Moso I have was from there, and the Golden ( P Aurea), the Castillion and Inversa, and one Nigra was from him, a lot of people say P Aurea spreads real fast, I have two stands of them and from two different seller, and they both acking like clumping bamboo, spreading no more than 3' in 3 years, the most aggresive running bamboo for me is the Bissetii bamboo, and the Red Margin next, I have two stands of Nigra, one started as one gallon plant, and one with 2 small 1 cane plant and one large one culm plant and both stand of Nigra didn't run more than 5' in 3 years... the Moso from Jim spreaded about 5' and from pencil size to now about 3/4" and 7' tall, I planted a small Bissetii in midway of the storm cellar, and in one year, it spread almost completely to cover the whole storm cellar, I sent you some pictures and you can see for it yourself :)

[ghmerrill]

If you are looking for species to work with for various art projects, you may want to consider the moso and henon. both have excelent wood quality, should grow well in your area, and attain rather large size. Both will take longer to establish however, say around 3-5 years to see vigorus growth, where something like bisseti will spread much more rapidly, but not acheive the larger size.

[seti]

You are making the right choice of Bamboo Plantation, I ordered 5 plants from Jim Bonner in Bamboo plantation in 2005, and every one of them survived, and his barrier price is best amount all those suppliers! the Moso I have was from there, and the Golden ( P Aurea), the Castillion and Inversa, and one Nigra was from him, a lot of people say P Aurea spreads real fast, I have two stands of them and from two different seller, and they both acking like clumping bamboo, spreading no more than 3' in 3 years, the most aggresive running bamboo for me is the Bissetii bamboo, and the Red Margin next, I have two stands of Nigra, one started as one gallon plant, and one with 2 small 1 cane plant and one large one culm plant and both stand of Nigra didn't run more than 5' in 3 years... the Moso from Jim spreaded about 5' and from pencil size to now about 3/4" and 7' tall, I planted a small Bissetii in midway of the storm cellar, and in one year, it spread almost completely to cover the whole storm cellar, I sent you some pictures and you can see for it yourself :)

The pictures were great. Thank you for sharing. The growth rate is alarming lol.

[seti]

If you are looking for species to work with for various art projects, you may want to consider the moso and henon. both have excelent wood quality, should grow well in your area, and attain rather large size. Both will take longer to establish however, say around 3-5 years to see vigorus growth, where something like bisseti will spread much more rapidly, but not acheive the larger size.

The speed of the Bisseti is very tempting. I have decided to have two groves the one along the back will be timber. Then on the side of my house where I have neighbots to block Bisseto will be perfect.

I have been reading about these timber bamboos and asking questions here this week. It seems if I want to go timber henon or moso it is best to start with a large divisions. This year I think I can get the barrier installed and plant two divisions. The plan is to drive to one of the bamboo farms in Alabama or Missisissipi. Bamboo plantation, JM Bamboo, and Lewis Bamboo are all about 5 to 6 hour drives from here. If I drive then I can purchase a larger division than I can have shipped. I was think of two 35 to 45 gallon divisions for about $200 - $250. Now that I type this I can't remember which farm sold the large divisions....

I have read the Henon is a more vigorous grower than the Moso. Is this true?

Thanks again for all the great advice and information.

[seti]

Is it possible to buy the rhizome without the cane? Just curious if this might be an option for larger bamboo?

[CaroleMeckes]

Is it possible to buy the rhizome without the cane? Just curious if this might be an option for larger bamboo?

While is it possible to grow bamboo from rhizomes - timing is crucial.
Since running bamboo is programmed to shoot mainly once a year - there is a small pocket of time when the "buds" on the rhizomes are swelling and about to emerge into culms - if you miss that time - the rhizomes will most likely just rot and die out.

Also - it takes longer to start from rhizomes and there is no benefit of admiring the plants above the ground.

Carole

[seti]

While is it possible to grow bamboo from rhizomes - timing is crucial.
Since running bamboo is programmed to shoot mainly once a year - there is a small pocket of time when the "buds" on the rhizomes are swelling and about to emerge into culms - if you miss that time - the rhizomes will most likely just rot and die out.

Also - it takes longer to start from rhizomes and there is no benefit of admiring the plants above the ground.

Carole

That makes sense. Thanks

[seti]

I went to Dallas this week and went to the Dallas World Aquarium. We got there 30 minuted before they opened. I noticed that they had at least 6 different types of bamboo.

The black bamboo did not stand up straight very well.

The bamboo that grows zig zag like was really nice.

The bamboo that was yellow with green stripes looked very cool.

There was a short fuzzy bamboo that was very interesting for landscaping.

The henon was awesome. I think this is what I want. It was very cool to see it in person and to see how the rhizomes grow.