tel: 512-280-1192 Nov. 18, 2011
Nursery notes: The lights and cameras of YNN (formerly News 8)
were with us yesterday for a 3 part interview with owner Chris
Winslow on herbs and onions. Interviewing him was Donna Fried-
enreich from Zilker Botanical Gardens. The first segment airs
tomorrow. On sale this week: 20% off all metal artwork and
pottery. This includes all archways and bottle trees etc, (but not
the Talavera pottery). Lots of veggies and onions still available.
Happy Thanksgiving to all customers! (No newsletter next week.)
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Thanks to Jack Mills for his thoughtful presentation on backyard
bee-keeping last Sunday. Stopping by for the lecture, along with the
audience of curious gardeners, were some local Manchaca bees,
eager to explore Jack's beehive... and the honey inside. Jack's blog:
In the Lost Gardens of Heligan (UK), visitors wander among the
creative plant scultures of Sue and Pete Hill, such as Giant's Head
(above). See more in this amazing feature in Garden Design magazine:
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On Central Texas Gardener (KLRU-TV): Sharon Lovejoy, author
of Toad Cottages and Shooting Stars, sparks creativity with family
fun outdoors. On tour, meet the next generation of gardeners at Casis
Elementary. Noon and 4 p.m., Sun. 9 a.m or click here:
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Seasonal Wreath Workshops’ Dec. 4, 10, 11, at 2 p.m. In this
hands-on class, craftswoman Diane Winslow will guide you through
the process of creating your own beautiful Christmas bay leaf wreath.
Pre-registration required. Fee: $35. (No speaker this Sunday)
A Guide to 'Clumping' Bamboo
by Chris Winslow
A few facts: over a billion people around the world live in bamboo
houses; there are 1,500 species; and, according to the experts, it’s
the fastest growing plant on the planet.
Can you think of any thing else capable of growing 4 feet in a day?
As wonderful as all this is, of all the great screening plants available
for our central Texas area, bamboo is the most misunderstood.
Bamboo is on the ‘bad boy’ list of the City of Austin and the Grow
Green Guide, where it is listed as an invasive species. If you plant a
'running’ bamboo as a fast growing screen, expect a chill in relations
with your neighbors. They are going to be kept busy year after year
combating your invasive running shoots.
The solution is simple enough. Plant ‘clumping’ bamboo rather than
running bamboo. The clumping ones look beautiful in our landscapes,
and you will still have cordial relations with neighbors.
Clumping varieties grow slowly in circles, and send out new shoots
from their base rather than going across the yard. My favorite variety?
Alphonse Karr. It’s 15 to 20 feet tall, and is one of the most cold
hardy of the clumpers. Its shoots often appear pink to red in color,
while its stalks or culms are orange-yellow with a vertical green stripe.
Planted on 2 to 4 foot centers, this bamboo will make a satisfyingly
dense privacy screen.
Planted them individually, and you will find Alphonse Karr makes an
attractive specimen plant. When looking for suitable clumping forms
of bamboo, pick one that has sufficient tolerance to cold. Many are
damaged when temperatures fall below 20 degrees.
Other good ones to look for are golden goddess, Buddha’s belly, and
giant timber. Golden goddess is a dwarf form, rarely growing taller
than 8 feet. Its density makes it an effective screening plant. Buddha’s
Belly is a tall growing clumper with zig-zag culms.
Giant timber bamboo can grow over 30 feet tall and produces giant
green culms. Giant Timber should be placed in a somewhat protected
location as its winter hardiness is placed at 18 degrees.
Care and location for growing of bamboo is important if you want a fast
growing screen. Most bamboos thrive in a sunny to partly sun location
with plenty of moisture.
Our native soils should be enriched with compost at the time of planting.
Continued moisture and feeding is essential if you want them to grow at
high speed.
You can also grow them in containers. Choose one with good drainage
and select a premium potting soil mix. I once planted two large golden
goddesses in a four foot tall, oblong cattle trough to provide screening
and privacy on a back porch. It worked great!
Another good place to see a wide variety of bamboo is at Casa de Luz
in Austin (1701 Toomey Road, Austin 78704).
Happy gardening everyone!
Visit the website: www.itsaboutthyme.com Visit the nursery:11726 Manchaca Road, Austin 78748
