Bamboo advice

[BabbleBee]

I’ve got a well established bamboo on one side of my garden. I have a slight problem with lack of privacy on the other side and could do with a nice tall, dense plant to create a screen.

Can I split the bamboo and transplant to the other side of the garden?

Yes! It might depend on the type, but very possibly.

I believe you can. I think it’s quite tough to cut through them. Have a look on YouTube. And as pp said, might depend on type.

I’ll have a look on YouTube, I didn’t think of that. I have no idea what type it is, just that it’s green and grows a lot

I’ve divided clumps of bamboo with an old bread knife before :)

My usual response to requests for bamboo advice is “Don’t!”
Bamboo is wildly invasive, fast growing and almost impossible to get rid of. The clump that was here when I moved in has invaded the neighbour’s garden, spread down my border and into my lawn and is currently engaged in a full on fight to the death with my Deutzia and roses!

I would recommend putting the bamboo in a really big pot, or split into a couple of big pots. I have a couple of really big clumps that I keep in pots and it's been really useful to move them around as needed with no fear of the invasion as Babdoc mentioned.

Another vote for putting it in a pot.

It's taken us a year to get rid of our small clump.

If you ever decide to get rid you will find as soon as you cut out the 'main' clump... all the roots you can't see will then start sprouting up! And the roots spread EVERYWHERRE. Once you think you've got it all more will come up.

Can you buy the bamboo privacy screens that are dead/dried bamboo attached together?

Ooh the pot idea is a good one. The one I’ve got doesn’t seem to spread a huge amount, it’s just very dense. It must be more than 5 years old and is about 3 feet at the base. I don’t do anything with it other than lop the top off to keep it level with the 6’ fence. The other side of my garden is very different conditions though so that could make a difference.

There are two types of bamboo - running bamboo & clumping bamboo. It sounds like you've been lucky and have got the clumping sort. Those of us who have inherited running bamboo in their gardens have a constant battle.

You should be able to split yours but if you do end up buying a new plant make sure to get the right sort!

@CrumbleLady that was by luck and not judgement - I am no gardener and have no idea what I’m buying or doing. I seem to be able to keep roses but that’s all! Anything else has to be very hardy to survive my gardening…

Stick it in a pot is the best advice.
I would get myself a some shrubs that have been made into a tree like the large photina from mailorder trees www.mailordertrees.co.uk/products/photinia-pink-marble-pink-marble-cassini-tree