Bamboos are a sub-family of woody or tree grasses from moist temperate forests. The hardier types all thrive in Ireland’s moist and temperate climate with the minimum of fuss. They have a reputation for being invasive, which puts some people off using them at all, though in fact many more are perfectly well behaved.
There are practical ways of controlling the most vigorous kinds. You can buy special lengths of fl at metal or sturdy, flexible plastic to insert into the ground as a physical barrier, so as to stop the bamboo’s rhizomes (roots) running where you don’t want them. Some species can grow into impenetrable jungle, so you shouldn’t choose them for a small garden or for containers.
Another complaint sometimes heard against bamboos is their susceptibility to wind burn, which can look terrible, so plant them in your most sheltered site. While no bamboo can tolerate very dry winds for long, tests show that in exposed seaside places, for example, Pseudosas japonica (2m), when used as a windbreak, does very well (2m). Another good hedging plant that
will also do well near the sea is Phyllostachys bissettii, being very hardy and always fresh and green looking even in the depths of winter. The striking colours of some bamboo culms (stems) are particularly attractive. They come in horizontal and vertical stripes and striations, in yellows, whites, creams, pinks, greens and even blue, as with Himalyacalamus hookerianus, which is rare but certainly available here, though be warned that its waxy new culms will age from dusty blue to yellow-green or purple-red in colder areas.
Bord Bia It’s Garden Time
With thanks to Bord Bia for this article. For more information on Bord Bia and for further gardening tips and advice, visit http://www.bordbia.ie/consumer/gardening/itsgardentime/pages/gardentips.aspx
Another complaint sometimes heard against bamboos is their susceptibility to wind burn, which can look terrible, so plant them in your most sheltered site. While no bamboo can tolerate very dry winds for long, tests show that in exposed seaside places, for example, Pseudosas japonica (2m), when used as a windbreak, does very well (2m). Another good hedging plant that
will also do well near the sea is Phyllostachys bissettii, being very hardy and always fresh and green looking even in the depths of winter. The striking colours of some bamboo culms (stems) are particularly attractive. They come in horizontal and vertical stripes and striations, in yellows, whites, creams, pinks, greens and even blue, as with Himalyacalamus hookerianus, which is rare but certainly available here, though be warned that its waxy new culms will age from dusty blue to yellow-green or purple-red in colder areas.
Bord Bia It’s Garden Time
With thanks to Bord Bia for this article. For more information on Bord Bia and for further gardening tips and advice, visit http://www.bordbia.ie/consumer/gardening/itsgardentime/pages/gardentips.aspx
