permaculture

[Michael Broili <mbroili@well.com>]

Milogic@aol.com wrote:
> 
> Frank,
> 
> The so-called running bamboos can do exactly that in due time. Like almost
> any plant, they need some attention to do what you want them to do. At
> shooting time, look where the shoots are coming up. If you don't want to 
> have
> a shoot there, stomp it, tromp it, nip or whack it off if you are of that
> sort of mind. Otherwise, ask permission to lop that shoot off so that the
> strength involved can move over to one growing where you want. In terms of
> thinning, it is important to remember than the strengths to support new
> shoots come from the older ones. Do thinning after shooting, a reasonable
> rule to follow. Bamboo loves canopy and bamboo company and will try to
> complete its own as soon as possible. It is self-mulching to a degree and
> over time. In a happy planting, shooting may follow a rudimentary fibonacci
> curve in terms of expansion. This is not a documented phenomenon, just a
> hunch from a bamboo watcher.
> 
> Expect a plant or planting to reach maturity over maybe 5 to 7 years or
> longer depending on the variety and climate, relationship to sun, etc. Thin
> culms older than 5 years to start and then pay attention to what the plant
> indicates as a guide to thinning. In cold season, when I lived in such
> places, I would heap mulch around the bamboos and put some rocks on the 
> sunny
> side to act as solar heat sinks. If you have a hot, dry summer keep the 
> mulch
> and take away the rocks.
> 
> Generally speaking most bamboos like a relatively loose, high humus soil 
> with
> good drainage. They like to be damp but not saturated. Once established, 
> they
> will tolerate a lot of abuse and keep coming back hoping that someone will 
> be
> nicer to them.
> 
> Look at the American Bamboo Society Webpage  <A 
> HREF="http://www.bamboo.org/ab
> s/">ABS Web page</A> to find the Annual Source List. That list gives
> information about sun tolerance, expected characteristcs at maturity, cold
> and heat tolerance, etc. There is a list of vendors included in the source
> list.
> 
> I would look for bamboos which have been propagated or divided in your
> general area rather than brought in from a zillion miles away where they 
> were
> grown under different conditions. Bamboo tend to be very mico-climate
> sensitive. They are also sensitive to neighbors making excellent or rather
> poor companions. Much of that sensitivity can only come through watching how
> the bamboos behave in a particular location.
> 
> I am a bamboo aficionado but far from a taxonomic expert of any kind. I just
> grow them for enjoyment and company.
> 
> If you are nice to Steve at ATTRA, he has an excellent summary about bamboo
> which I would recommend, too.
> 
> Shredding: Bamboo has a tough hide with a lot of silica in it which wrecks
> hell with any but the bigger and better shredders by which I mean the 
> $25,000
> to $40,000 varieties. Many shredding companies will recommend that you get a
> competitor to shed yours for you. Save your Troybilt for tender trees and
> barbed wire.
> 
> Milo Clark
> Berkeley CA USA

Actually it is best to thin in the fall.  Also the shoots are good
food.  I would recommend eating them as opposed to "stomping, tromping,
nipping or whacking".

M Broili