Bamboo Removal | Hydrangea Planting | High Halden.
There’s nothing better than getting stuck into a garden makeover or new planting scheme. Filling the truck with plants is always an exciting time.
It’s certainly something I never seem to do enough of.
So I was delighted when I got a call from a client in High Halden, they had recently moved into their new home and wanted to improve a couple of areas in their garden.
As soon as I pulled into their drive I could see a large harsh looking pebbled area. I can only imagine that this may have previously been grass.
The Bamboo Desert
On further inspection, the whole area had bamboo protruding just above the surface. Although the bamboo had been cut to almost ground level and killed, the rhizomes were still running through the ground and the obtrusive bamboo was making the area unusable and had become a trip hazard.
The client required the bamboo to be removed and to soften the landscape with plants.
Excavating bamboo usually has to be done by hand and can be extremely hard work.
Its a job I don’t think many gardeners would say the enjoy, or at all want to do.
A Very Short Guide About Bamboo
Versatile Bamboo
Bamboo can be an excellent addition to a garden, it can have many uses – offering year round foliage, its excellent for screening, or as a focal point and looks attractive in large pot on a patio, to name but a few.
For me, I love the sound of its leaves blowing in the wind and how the tall canes bend, there’s something very soothing about that. It also reminds me of my exotic travels.
Bamboo Maintenance.
Although relatively low maintenance, their growth can be fast and vigorous.
The canes will need cutting back from time to time. I find the leaves on the canes to be a mild irritant on my skin. The older leaves do drop and will need collecting, as they soon pile up.
Warning! Bamboo Can Be Very Invasive!
I don’t want to deter you from having Bamboo in your garden, however….
Before buying any Bamboo, you must as with any plant, shrub or tree, consider its potential height and spread, as well as its planting location.
Think Rhizomes.
Unlike like most plants, bamboo doesn’t have a root system, but uses a rhizome stem structure which produces new shoots.
There are 2 main types of rhizomes: clumping and non-invasive or running and invasive.
The latter, can be very problematic. It’s rhizomes will run along just below the surface and produce new shoots.
Where these appear can vary, from a few centimetres to a few metres from its origin.
These hard stubborn shoots can invade your lawn, garden beds and even appear in between gaps in your patio – and potentially ruin your relationship with your neighbour.
The clumping variety, whilst less invasive, can still spread. The clumps can become large and are very difficult to remove or thin out.
To contain rhizomes you must use a physical barrier. If not growing in a pot, then most popular is a thick membrane dug around the bamboo. I have seen raised sleeper beds be very effective too.
Here’s a really useful article by the Royal Horticultural Society about Bamboo species available in the UK and their behaviour.
Removing Bamboo
The main tools I always bring when confronted with bamboo removal are: a mattock, a hole digging bar, a spade and a battery reciprocating saw.
You may also need a hand saw and loppers. Wear gloves, cut or split bamboo canes can be sharp.
For clumping bamboo: Saw off the branches to near ground height, dig a trench deep enough around the clump to be able to prise it up. Depending on its size the clump can weigh a few hefty kilos.
If there are many large clumps, you need consider hiring a groundwork or landscaping company that has access to a mini digger.
For running or invasive bamboo: Saw off the branches to near ground height, use a mattock to dig under the rhizome and pull it up. Once you can see part of the rhizome on the surface, you should be able pull it out of the ground by hand.
Hydrangea Planting
We settled on hydrangeas because they were suited to the surrounding environment.
Being evergreen, they offer all year round foliage with big beautiful blooms during the summer to early autumn.
Their height and spread can be up to 3m, so we didn’t many to cover the area.
They also require little maintenance once established and are generally hardy.
This was a very challenging but rewarding couple of days.
If you need a garden tidy up of or planting scheme why not give us a call.
This is part 1 of a garden maker over, part 2 can be read here how we turned a shady disused area of the garden into a raised vegetable patch, with a backdrop of shade loving hostas and ferns.