OK... I recently spent about 16 days in the Philippines. While there, I saw fish ponds and a bunch of other stuff including a lot of bamboo. Bamboo being used for huts, fences, scaffolding, bridges, etc. I also saw some really big bamboo growing high up on tall hillsides.

The uses intrigued me and made me more interested in bamboo. That it was growing so high up and far away from apparent water sources made me more concerned about bamboo spreading and becoming a nuisance.

I know bamboo was discussed here several years ago; but I can't seem to find those discussions via searches. Any new developments or recommendations related to planting bamboo around a pond in the midwest?

Bamboo will survive in the midwest?

I planted some bamboo a couple of years ago. It is supposed to be a large variety, but so far is very small and spreading slowly.

From what I remember about bamboo, is that there are only a few species that will NOT get out of hand fast (like an invasive species).

Cecil, there are so many species of bamboo, I'll bet there would be one that would survive in the Midwest. Now would we want it to is another question.......

Cuidado (caution) my friend,

There are many species of bamboo that are VERY invasive and can grow inches in A DAY. A safe bet would be that many species are prohibited in your state

I wonder if it grows as fast as cattails? I've documented 10 inches of growth in one day with cattails.

I think there is only one species of bamboo native to North America.It is called river cane and was used by native americans for arrows....

I HATE bamboo... One of my childhood homes it had taken over nearly the whole yard. I spent weeks with my dad hacking and whacking, digging and spraying trying to control it. It was a never ending battle.

I did a search on bamboo in Georgia (always wanted my own cane pole source) and came across this site. They have made fish habitat out of bamboo. Interesting. http://www.actionfishingtrips.com/habitat.htm

FWIW: I just saw on mythbusters that bamboo will grow through a person.

I like Bamboo. I see a lot of it around here but there doesn't seem to be a problem. I used a bunch of it this winter to make brushpiles..worked real good..holding fish as we speak (as I type?) Now if yall want to talk about a destructive, useless, ugly, insidious and invasive plant.....try dealing with Kudzu!!!! KILLS EVERYTHING IT TOUCHES.

FFF, I just got back from NC, visiting my cousin. They have some bamboo there that is growing like weeds and YES, I did see large areas that are dead and brown because it's covered by Kudzu. What can be done to kill that *&$^!!

Scott..absolutey nothing short of 2 ft of concrete. The next time you visit NC if its within reasonable drive to Charlotte PM me if you can squeeze in a free day and we'll go fish the lease that prompted me to join PB. As close to a LOCK as your gonna find!

ranger, i would suggest you find a hardy clumping bamboo.

speaking off the cuff...bamboo is a grass and grows from rhizomes. there are hundreds of species but basically only two types of bamboo.....running and clumping. running bamboo can be very invasive. if you want a large cane variety like timber bamboo, depending on species, it can take up to 10 years before you see large canes develop. there are many beautiful smaller varieties with quick dividends though - like some of the golden and black varieties.

google clumping bamboos and look for a hardy (cold tolerant) species. good luck.

I appreciate the offer FFF! I was a short hop away from Hendersonville,NC and only spent 2 days there. (and 2 more driving to and fro)

Dave: I'm reading about the clumping varieties. Seems to address my concerns. Thanks! Jeff

glad i could help a little.

i am trying to stay one or two "helpful" posts ahead of jhap, i think i might be up to 30 or 40 now.........

Hey, don't sell yourself short, DIED - remember, you won the quarry contest, so you had a lot of great posts. JHAP. . .not so much in that contest!

I plead insanity.

With posts like this one in your past, some may testify in support of that condition:



From this thread.

We have no idea what you are talking about.

If you are looking for bamboo that you can utilize, there really isn't any clumpers for your area to try. The most useful species are in the Chinese Phyllostachys genus, and they also will tend to be the most aggressive and they do run, even in my climate.

If you live in southern Illinois, they'll remain evergreen in average winter, but in northern Illinois, probably die to the ground each winter, at least until it is established. Anything above the snowline has winterkilled for me every year. I've had bamboo for about 5 years and have around 35 species in the ground.

This is a photo of my Phyllostachys aureosulcata 'Spectabilis' bamboo in late winter.

It was planted as a 1 gallon size back in '06, so has spread pretty good, and each year, its mass just gets bigger and bigger, so I figure I'll start feeling like I live in China with multiple species in the yard.

BB: Thanks for the additional info. I did read about the clumping varieties and had questions about their temperature hardiness in my area (about even with St. Louis MO). I'm leery of the non-clumping versions.

I have numerous customers who want the running or timber variety of bamboo for small gardens in their yards. The bamboo nursery in arkansas gave us a method they use to control their runners and it has worked great for us in containing bamboo. Mark out your area you wish to have bamboo. Dig a trench three cinder blocks deep around the perimeter. Place cinder blocks in trench and fill holes with quickcrete. Plant your bamboo in the center with compost/soil mixture, fertilize and your good to go. You wont see much the first couple years but by the third years it should really take off. Bamboo needs a lot of water to do well. The only thing you have to do is walk around your perimeter a couple times a year and check for roots trying to grow over the wall. When you do find them just cut them back. Looks great and is actually the coolest type of shade you can sit in on a hot summer day.

Also do expect a winter kill. I am in southern mo and have three varieties of bamboo in my yard and it has winterkilled every year..but it always comes back