Question
We are considering planting Bamboo as a hedge around our garden. Our neighbors are concerned it will end up growing in their yards. We would like to prevent that from occurring. What can we do? Also, how likely is it that leaves from our bamboo will end up in our neighbor's yard? If this is a problem, can you suggest an alternative? Thank you.
Bernie
San Francisco
Answer
Bamboo is lovely but can be difficult to contain. Your neighbors are correct, they can be messy with leaves. Choose a variety that it is not a running type. This is not to say that the clumping types do not spread, they just do so less erratically. The genera best for you are Fargesia, Himalayacalamus or Bambusa. Bamboo is a grass, and does respond to cutting so you would need to keep the bamboo trimmed so it is not tall enough to send leaves their way. As for it's spread, I recommend you plant it in a plastic garbage can at least 3' tall with the bottom cut away. Leave 3" at the top above the soil line so you can watch for and remove creeping rhizomes (roots). If this sounds like a lot of work, consider the fern pine (Podocarpus gracillior) or Hopseed (Dodonaea).
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