Bamboo!

Greetings, wise Permies.
A friend of mine (and pre-permie gardener) has a neighbor erecting a big gross structure that spells the end for privacy or sunlight in her home, so Im hoping to install some bamboo babies along her fence in hopes of... hiding her house in a few years time.

Thus!
We reside on the Sierran foothills of Nevada County, a a definitive Mediterranean climate. The fence is southerly, so the fellows would be exposed to the north a bit.
My plan is to dig an bed along the fence, and Ill probably hire a clumper for the deed since this is a suburban area, but Im wondering if there are specific sorts that would grow taller faster? I don't anticipate the poles being used for anything structural, so thin bushy poles would be great. There are a number of clumps Ive spotted around town that are happy to be here without assistance so Ill probably bota-nick and install some of them, but as this is a lengthy process with a potential ~recruit on the fence, I wanna get it off the ground the first try.... and I don't know crap about bamboo.

Thoughts? Naysayings?

I planted some running bamboo in containers. Quick growth, privacy and containment. I used those large black 110 gallon black things they sell at Tractor Supply. Drilled holes in the bottom for drainage and sat them on wooden pallets, up off the ground....so the bamboo won't make contact with the ground and run off.

http://www.bamboogarden.com/


You may find this website useful, I discovered them through Edible Forest Gardens by Dave Jacke and Eric Toensmeier.

I have plenty of bamboo to sale.. If you are interested contact me by call or txt. Ask for Steven clark

Thanks for the thoughts, hopefully this project stays foolproof.

Clarks - Do you have any rhizomes you think would be better adapted or even... more novel? These thin green poles around town seem happy, but if I could go fancier (i.e. black or striped) it may be worth paying for

Controlling the spread of bamboo is why we decided against it. See the attached instructions here. http://www.bamboogarden.com/barrier%20installation.htm
I'm tired just looking at it... We don't like digging in our concrete clay. I still think bamboo is pretty.

Whoa, that rhizome cutaway is cooool!

Very helpful, thanks Joylynn.

In general, the wild types (plain green canes, normal sized green leaves) grow faster and get larger/taller than the ornamental cultivars (black/striped canes, variegated leaves). The tropical clumping bamboos like Bambusa multiplex can be propagated from cane sections (they root at the node) taken during the growing season, otherwise dig rhizome divisions (best done when dormant in the winter). The main thing is not to let it dry out (leaves curling) while you are rooting it or until the division gets established.

That's exactly what I wanted to know. I know just the greenies, the plan is set.

A thousand thanks!