A few weeks ago I gave the Asian lemon bamboo (
Bambusa eutuldoides ‘Viridivittata’) in the front yard a radical trim. I was so happy with the result that yesterday I decided to tackle two more bamboos: the Baby Blue (
Bambusa chungii 'Barbellata') and Alphonse Karr (
Bambusa multiplex 'Alphonse Karr').
I didn't thin these clumps as much as I did the Asian lemon but the difference is still noticeable--and very pleasing, I think.
Take a look at the before and after:
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BEFORE: Baby Blue (Bambusa chungii 'Barbellata') on the right
(ignore the Bambusa oldhamii on the left; I didn't touch it) |
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| AFTER: Baby Blue (Bambusa chungii 'Barbellata') |
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| BEFORE |
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| AFTER. I removed the culms closest to the succulent bed and the ones overhanging it the most |
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| AFTER. The icy blue culms of the bamboo are much more visible now |
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| AFTER. The blue bamboo culms almost match the hue of the blue cycad (Encephalartos lehmanii) |
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| LEFT: Encephalartos lehmanii and Agave bovicornuta RIGHT: Encephalartos lehmanii and Bambusa chungii 'Barbellata' |
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| BEFORE. View from the front door |
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| AFTER |
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| LEFT: Aloe reitzii and Puya coerulea var. coerulea |
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| AFTER: I removed some of the congestions so each culm stands out more |
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| LEFT: Bambusa multiplex 'Alphonse Karr' CENTER: Bambusa chungii 'Barbellata' RIGHT: Bambusa oldhamii |
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| BEFORE: Bambusa multiplex 'Alphonse Karr' as seen from the driveway |
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| AFTER |
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| AFTER: walkway to the front door |
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| AFTER. The clump of Alphonse Karr is less congested now and more pleasing to the eye |
That's hard work! You did a beautiful job. The bamboo looks great, much prettier after your grooming, but my eyes stuck on the Encephalartos and the Aloe reitzii. Oooh-la-la!
ReplyDeleteAt least you can just pile all the cuttings in the street, instead of having to pack them into bins. (Envious!)
Would you believe it, as large as that Aloe reitzii is, it's never bloomed. Maybe because it's in a container?
DeleteThe encephalartos is super happy, now that it's in the ground. It's has two flushes of leaves this year.
Summer bloomer--do you water it in summer?
DeleteYes, it's on a drip. But maybe it doesn't get enough water? It looks happy enough, with big plump leaves.
DeleteEverything below got a little needed breathing space. I love that blue cycad!
ReplyDeleteMaintaining enough breathing space is one of the joys of having a small garden crammed with plants :-)
DeleteThat's hard work! You did a beautiful job. The bamboo looks great, much prettier after your grooming, but my eyes stuck on the Encephalartos and the Aloe reitzii. Oooh-la-la!
ReplyDeleteAt least you can just pile all the cuttings in the street, instead of having to pack them into bins. (Envious!)
Oh wait...that's what Hoov said...well that's exactly what I was thinking!
LOL. I was thinking, wow, didn't I just read the same comment??
DeleteLovely. Next spring we will thin the stone bamboo!
ReplyDeleteIt's still a mystery to me why your stone bamboo is so tight. It's supposed to be a running bamboo, and it hasn't run two feet in all the years it's been in the ground!
DeleteI've been thinking about thinning some of my bamboos too, but I think I'll just hire you instead. Looks great! Does the city care about what types of green waste they collect? In other words, is bamboo fine? I know it's difficult to chip.
ReplyDeleteLOL. Now would be a good time to travel to St Louis. I think you've got warmer temperatures than we do!
DeleteI checked the yard waste restrictions here in Davis and bamboo isn't mentioned. I've never had a problem.
I agree clumping bamboos almost always look better with thinning, and I try to get to it at least once a year in my garden designs. The Alphonse Karr grows so fast, it usually gets thinned twice a year. Fortunately bamboo is so easy to cut, but does take time.
ReplyDeleteThis task did take a bit longer because access is challenging due to the fence.
DeleteGlad to hear about your experience with Alphonse Karr. Same here. Alphonse Karr seems to grow much faster and/or produce more culms than any of the other bamboos I have.