Bamboo

[EatCrow]

I’ve just planted three 7ft tall bamboos (in huge pots) for privacy. I’ll be cutting the tops to 6ft a) because they’re a little too tall and b) in the hope that it will encourage thickness. Has anyone done this and did it help please?

Bamboo can be really bad. Very invasive. (editing because I read again and see you have it in pots)
Dig it out while you can, get a fence put in instead

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0hrn6yf

It'd be easier with a bit of trellis and an evergreen climber. The bamboo will outgrow the containers fairly quickly.

Most will fill containers but you can just split it and give half away every so often. I love it. The sound of it rustling is just beautiful.

Very good link posted by @Sparsely - dig it up- now!!!!

Sorry I just saw you said they're in containers

When I say I’ve planted them in very large pots, I mean very large pots.

TomeTome, have you cut the height in order for the bamboo to thicken out?

If anyone has, can you let me know if it worked please?

You didn’t really edit your post did you. You left it exactly as it was with an admittance that I’d used pots thereby rendering your post absolutely pointless.

Er just want to say not all bamboo is invasive - just look for the non-spreading variety. I have a couple at the back of the garden - one is well established (10+ years) and well over 6 feet tall but quite thin at the top. It helps to take out the deadwood every so often. I haven't had the other one quite so long so still waiting for it's growth spurt.

Quite. As previously stated I have planted mine in pots. Have you ever cut the tops off yours and if so, did it help make them bushier? Mine are tall and quite thin at the moment and I want to encourage them to be thicker. Would pruning the tops help with that?

No I've never pruned the top but it's naturally bushy up to 10 feet then maybe another 1-2 feet of straggly bits. It's been that way for about the last 10 years but it took a while to get going. I'd simply make sure it has all the nutrients and water it needs while you wait.

I reduced the height of mine regularly.

It did make them put out more stalks from the base so that made the clump thicker/denser.

Bamboo is a member of the grass family, so it responds similarly to cutting and most gardeners will mow regularly to encourage the lawn coverage.