Live Bamboo Fence

All you need is several acres for it to grow in well and there you go..... What? That doesn't sound good?
If you're like me then it sounds really good except that you probably don't have the acreage. Don't let that daunt you though, there are varieties of clumping bamboo that are much more manageable as a screen and don't end up on the other side of the yard, or worse in the middle of the yard.
If that still sounds a little too much, there are many shrubs that would do just as well for a little privacy. If your area is good for it you might consider grapevines The main problem with a live fence is the time it takes for it to grow. Even if you have the acreage, bamboo would take a few years to make a decent fence unless you planted the entire thing. Likewise bushes and shrubs are usually sold in much smaller sizes than you would need to make a good fence. In the mean time you can plant vines, which would work well on a chain link fence, or tall growing flowering plants like sunflowers to fill in where the shrubs haven't yet.
If you have a living wall I would love to see pictures of them!

Bamboo Pile

The bamboo pile isn't very big. I figure a few more this size should do it for the fence.

The veggie and flower beds shouldn't be affected by it since they are far enough away that the sun will be above the top of the fence before it's above the top of the neighbor's trees.

The northwest patch has a little extra sun in the evenings due to the power lines running down the property line.

Bamboo

Just in case you were wondering, I do have bamboo in the backyard.
It is not however runnign rampant.
It is not digging under the house.
It is not invading the neighbor's yard.
It is not planted in the ground but in a pot. Otheriwse all of the above might not be true. Granted I have never seen bamboo try to come up inside a house but it might cut across a corner to reach the other side.
I have had it in a pot for two years now and it finally has decided to send up some new shoots. I was wondering if it ever would or if it would just stay green forever and get bushy.
I guess I should clarify that and say it is sending up a new shoot since there is only one so far and it's only about five inches tall.
If it keeps making new shoots I might just transplant it into a new pot one that is longer and wider so i can have parts to repair the fence. You never know when the neighbor's dog might want to chew a bit off of it.

While I'm on the topic of new shoots, my lemon tree seems to have acclimated to the bakc yard and has decided to continue growing for a spell. I just hope the rest of the citrus plants take it's lead and keep growing. So far the Kaffir lime has come to a halt and the key limes are barely crawling up out of the dirt.

Bamboo Fence

I have undertaken the huge task of building a fence out of bamboo. If you know much at all about bamboo you can breathe easy. I'm not planting it. Instead I am taking the bamboo that others have cut out of their backyard or sideyard or front of the house.
The last load of canes was taken from a house where the new owners who had recently moved in had put on Craig's List. I am nicer than most in that my wife and I not only took the pieces we were able to trim and strip before the sun set, well before a few hours after the sun set. We also helped bind the clippings and put them on the side of the street for the trash to pick up.
I have finally with my wife's help put all of the pieces in the backyard to be lashed together. This will probably take many months to complete since I still don't have enough cane to finish the project. Maybe a third or fourth.
There are unfortunately no pictures of this yet as it was again dark by the time we stacked them up where they will sit for a few days at least until I have the time to trim the remaining stalks sticking off the sides of the canes. Don't worry though, there will be pictures, lots and lots of pictures.