Post #765116 by Polly_Nesia on Thu, Jun 16, 2016 3:47 PM

We planted Bambusa textilis var. gracilis bamboo in 08/2013 for a privacy hedge in a section of our yard. It's a clumping bamboo, not running so the culms come up close to the original plants and can be easily removed when just shoots. We added a liner to the fence wall side of the bed before planting just for extra piece of mind but many told us it was unnecessary. After researching clumping bamboo for our area, I liked this variety for it's upright nature, thinner culms (easier to cut when mature), and estimated height of 20 feet in our area. I'd say some of the older grouping of culms are about that now. The nursery's website said it's lowest temp was 5F, so definitely hardy for our area. Other than some pruning of errant culms on occasion and feeding during the spring to fall season, it's pretty maintenance free. We're not quite there yet with full privacy screening from the 2-story house behind us, but getting there. Here's some photos. Last photo was 01/2016.

The planting area here is only 5 feet from fence to fireplace (less when you consider the stepping stones) and one of the reasons I selected a narrow culm bamboo. As you can tell we have this on a drip with the rest of our landscaping. Mulch helps hold the moisture in the ground during our hot summer/fall days. Seems to tolerate the heat pretty well and when the leaves look curled we give it some extra water with a watering can, but this hasn't been a water hog at all.