Bamboo...whaddayaknow?
 

Vash's earlier thread has caused this :)

Been thinking about putting some type of natural barrier down my rural property line in one section....want something that's also there in winter. A row of cedars, or some other tree would be ideal if I was 30 years younger, but I want something that will grow fast. Been thinking about bamboo for a while now, as I see parcels of it around...a dense thicket is exactly what I want. Don't really care if it spreads out either...maybe an acre or so total. Anyone with experience doing similar?
I'd like to have a decent natural barrier that doesn't take decades nor a small fortune...the denser the better. Any advice, suggestions, or other ideas?

There was naturally growing bamboo along one line of the family property and my brother cleared it out. He said it was a major PITA since it was dense, thick, and 15' tall. We have no idea how it got there, we don't think our grandfather would have planted it on purpose.

Does that help answer your question?

no it is evil

NOOOOOOOO. It is impossible to control.

I know a family that came to visit us in Alabama many years ago. They just loved the pretty blooming vines that were everywhere. They took home a small Kudzu plant. I always wondered if their neighbors lynched them or burned them at the stake.

Clumping bamboo would fit your bill.

If you had some sort of natural barrier, it would be great, but I have seen large plots full of running bamboo. You can just mow over the shoots, and that stops the shoots that you mow from growing, of course, there will be more shoots coming behind them. It will grow tall and dense fairly quickly. There are various colors, sizes and styles. There are also some that have different weather tolerances.

I love the sound of the wind rustling the bamboo leaves. As for the bamboo shoots, cut them, boil them, and use them in stir fry.

This is where I'm leaning... I want a large thick plot along the edge of my property....I don't think it would penetrate (run) too much into the old, well establshed hardwood forest there....other section is near a few acres of open land...I suspect a John Deere with a bush hog would have no problem keeping it in check. I hear your warnings guys....but I am hard headed :). Keep 'em coming....

cliumping bamboo still spreads. it radiates outwards. admittedly more slowly. here is the crappy part. if you want to create a visual border; the running-type of bamboo is the superior border cover. if you go with the clumping type, you would need to plant them shoulder to shoulder.

google bamboo borders. the plastic stuff, 3' deep cost $2.70 per foot around here.

monday..let me go and get you a photo of a guy that had the exact same idea as you are having right now. he released the kraken for sure.

i was half joking about getting a bamboo tattoo just to remind myself about the ordeal..and how to ..ah..nevermind.

I’ve got bamboo poking up thru a paved basketball court....it is massively destructive and a huge pain in the a$$ to try to control. I expect it will overtake anything given enough time.

I know you are on the east coast, but I have used these guys for installations before and their system works pretty good. If they cant help you, they can point you in the right direction.bamboo giant nursery at DuckDuckGo

Never plant bamboo. Ever.

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I have a friend that runs an bamboo nursery and installation company.

"Have you ever seen Jumanji?"

Haha, I planted a bamboo plant about 30 years ago and it's all over the neighbourhod. No one knows it's my fault :D it's even climbing up inside peoples walls.

I wanted to plant bamboo as a fence/barrier once. Hated the neighbor, wanted to block him off asap. Brought in a "bamboo specialist" that basically talked me out of it. The clumping varieties can still spread out of control, and while we could have dug 3 foot trenches and lined them with rubber, they can still escape.

Fortunately that neighbor moved. (and ended up in jail)

Wildly invasive.

Planted Black Bamboo at house I used to own and although it is not as invasive as more common Golden Rain Bamboo it still took constant work to contain underground runners.

Black Bamboo in a raised, contained bed like this might work as the underground runners are shallow.
http://www.bamboos.com.au/wp-content...mor-black4.jpg

This!

I'm a stubborn fool :). Just to clarify, where I would plant bamboo has nothing around....just land. I have one acre that I have to bush hog pine trees every couple of years....dense growth (impossible to walk through) that I had to clear with a chainsaw several years ago....hundreds of them, but those areas are easily managed now. How would a small field of bamboo be any different? I've thought about attempting to get a growth pines started, but that's just not practical.
I understand what everyone is cautioning about, but don't think it applies to my situation.
Still thinking....