pupwontbark

The forest buffer I have behind my house is being torn down and there’s no word on what will replace it. I plan to plant clumping bamboo along the back half of the property for privacy and will corral it so it spreads in the direction I choose.

I have new banana plants (true blue java and mysore from a member on the form) in that area and am worried that the banana and bamboo roots will compete for space. The banana plants were both root bound in pots and recently planted in the ground. I’d like to move them if need be before the roots get settled into their new home.

Apologizes if this isnt the correct area to post this question.

Thanks!

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Akula

I urge you to plant almost anything other than bamboo. My neighbor has bamboo in his yard close to the property line. It's now popping up on my side of the fence. I have to dig it out every year to keep it out. Neighbor has tried to remove it numerous times and it keeps coming back. Highly invasive and super tough.

Don't fall for the "clumping"/'non-clumping" story. Its very similar to the namwa/blue java story. At best "clumping" just exands at a slower pace and worst case you get "non clumping" instead of clumping.

I understand your problem but I don't think bamboo is the solution. Sometimes you just back into another problem.

Good luck!

Johnsk9

Shey Try dwarf mulberry trees they grow well from cuttings and are fast growers you can plant them close and trim them so they get wide and fill in and you will get plenty of great fruit. John mulberry 12 feet wide


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pupwontbark

Thanks for the suggestion John. I'll look into it.

As far as neighbors, that wont be a problem. Like I said, no one is behind me or across from me.
I'd want to plant the bamboo or other hedge only along the back for privacy and a wind break for my bananas. Since they started tearing the forest down the wind has really picked up.

Regardless of what I end up planting... do you think the roots from the hedge will have a negative impact on banana growth?

Also here's an updated picture of the damage.

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Johnsk9

I know someone in central Fl that did this with Mulberry they made a real thick hedge you can not see or walk through. If you can find someone with these mulberry trees you can get many cuttings. and in a year you would see a nice start

Backyard Banana Joe

I think that things like lemon grass suck water out of the soil. Not sure if bamboo would

cincinnana

All the previous posts are correct.
This plant will outgrow and overgrow anywhere you plant it.
The plant locally will push through 3 inches of asphalt...And I mean your driveway.

While the plant is awesome there are better alternatives..

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pjkfarm

The clumping bamboo you speak of would do well and not interfere with your bananas as long as they are 5 or 6 feet apart. They use very little water. Clumping bamboo spreads VERY slowly - we are happy if we get 2 to 3 inches a year - and if after 5 or ten years it looks like its getting too close to something, very easy to wop off the edge - and either have a free plant or chuck it. Clumpers will grow anywhere from 8 feet tall to circa 20 feet - just decide on the size you want (rufa is a very tough one and not tall - but best to simply google them Fargesia ______ will get you what you want. Fargesia robusta is also a nice one, but take your choice - probably 10 easily avalable varieties.
Running bamboos are a different story and can become a real nuisance if planted in the wrong place (like pretty much any plant, bananas included :-) as they can spread 5 or 6 feet a year (which we also love as we grow the stuff for the Pandas at our Zoo here in Washington). Running bamboos can be controlled with poly barrier, not cheapa, or if enough land, tamped earth - we have many dirt roads which cut through our bamboo groves and they provide perfect barriers - bamboo has VERY shallow roots and hates compacted soil (also wet soil and water - a creek becomes perfect barrier - in fact we have part of our collection on islands - 50 varieties on 50 islands - a real maze which we boat through and enjoy the critters who like the jungle :-)

Mikemooreflorida

Mexican sunflower ( Bolivian sunflower ) Fast growing, looks good with lots of yellow flowers.. and can be chopped and dropped as organic fertilizer on trees or banana mats.. Easier to control than bamboo ( i have nice "small" clumping variety Alphonse Karr ) and wish I would have known about the Mexican sunflower Tithonia diversifolia before I purchased multiple bamboo. bamboo is nice for harvesting and using the sticks, but 1 clump is more than enough for the average guy.


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Current varieties:
Dwarf Cavendish Fruited , Apple Mansano TC unconfirmed, Rajapuri TC Fruited, Gold Finger TC unconfirmed, Dwarf Namwa TC Fruited, Dwarf Orinoco TC Fruited, Sweetheart FHIA-03 Fruited, Tall Red banana Fruited, Blue Java Fruited, Tall Namwa Fruited, Pisang Raja Fruited, Hua Moa TC Stunted, Dwarf Brazilian Fruited, High Gate unconfirmed, Tall Brazilian Fruited, Kokopo unconfirmed, FHIA-17 Fruited, Dwarf Plantain Fruited.