Bamboo - if I trim will it bush out at lower level?

[MaggieW]

I've got Phylostaccus nigra (sp?) in my garden and love it. It's around 18ft in height now and I'm wondering if I topped it to around 8ft, would it bush out at the lower level. I'm trying to grow it as a screen to give us a bit more privacy and would love to hurry it along a little with summer coming. TIA.

I've never tried it, but I don't think that it would particularly help it bush out - bamboo is a grass, and so taking it down lower isn't going to make each individual stem bush out, and I can't see any logical reason that it would make the new stems appear any faster.

You could consider planting another shorter variety in front of it if you have space. Umbrella bamboo is a good one, it has a lot of foliage at the top and then it begins to lean over and looks quite dense and attractive.

Thanks for that GM. Bmodb Is the Umbrella variety clumping - and does it take up much space ie in terms of how far would it come out if grown against a fence?

I would divide it and replant. I did this with one in my garden with some success (same type). It took a bit of a hit for the first year after division, but is looking good again now.

Actually I'm not sure if umbrella bamboo is clump-forming or not. Clump-forming is good - you don't have to restrict the roots.

Fountain bamboo is similar and is def. clump forming. I have it in my garden. Very nice and dense, excellent for screening.