Time to split

Split a bamboo that is, or to use the more-accepted terminology, "divide" the bamboo. You do this when a plant is too big (like many perennials) or when you want more plants. I've been debating whether or not I should divide this clumping bamboo (Fargesia dracocephala 'Rufa' or often just Fargesia 'Rufa') for over a year now:

Since it only spreads a few inches a year it's not really out of control, but it is getting in the way a bit and I want more plants, so I finally decided to stop thinking and start gardening, and just do it.

Read more »

Read more...

New Bamboo

Recently I posted about Fall being a great time to find bargains at the local nurseries -- in that case, new pots. Today I will talk about some more great bargains I found last weekend: more bamboo plants!

If you read my blog regularly, I know what you're thinking. You're thinking I already have more bamboo in my garden than most normal gardeners. You're thinking "where is he going to find somewhere to plant these -- bamboos need a lot of space, don't they?"

Read more »

Read more...

Damage of a Different Type

Yesterday I posted about storm damage to a castor bean plant and some vines. Today it's more damage, but not from a storm. Today's damage is brought to you by a couple of weeks of extreme heat.

First up is this bamboo. It's a Fargesia dracocephala 'Rufa' (also referred to as Fargesia rufa) that gets a fair amount of sunlight. By "fair amount" I mean "probably too much".

Read more »

Read more...

Take a look around

I've been spending so much time focusing on "details" of the garden in recent posts that I feel like I haven't given you a good sense of the garden as a whole. I've shown you specific plants, and small parts of certain beds, and potted up some plants, etc. but it isn't the individual plants that are important.

It's how they fit together and form the garden as a whole. You've got to step back and look at the whole thing once in a while, and that's what I'll do today.

Read more »

Read more...

Tying up floppy bamboo

We've had a lot of heavy rainstorms lately. Pretty much every day for the last week or so. It's not that we're getting huge storms that last for hours -- we're getting small, strong storms that dump a good amount of water in a short time.

This tends to flatten out plants. At least we haven't had hail yet -- that flattens a bit but mainly shreds. I'll take flattened over shredded plants any day. In the case of my bamboos though, I can do something about the floppiness: tie them up!

Read more »

Read more...

A little late?

I've been growing bamboo for a few years now, and the emergence of the year's new shoots in the Spring is one of the most exciting times in the garden! Things are a little slower this year than last, probably because it's been a bit colder this year, but I should start seeing more shoots any day now.

This Fargesia dracocephala 'Rufa' (also referred to as Fargesia rufa) is one of my earliest shooters. The shoots are so fun and happy looking, aren't they? These are small shoots -- less than 1/4" in diameter -- but they are just a teaser for the larger bamboo shoots that some of my other plants will be producing in the next few weeks. ***

Read more...