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Maintenance and presentation
Bamboos in containers must never dry out, and look their
freshest when regular, balanced liquid feed is given. Little maintenance is
required, other than the removal of dead leaves. Older canes can be thinned
annually to tidy the plant, preferably in spring when their new leaves begin to
appear. There is no reason why bamboos should not be underplanted with other
species but in practice these need to be chosen carefully to blend in and must
be able to withstand the competition. Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens'
contrasts beautifully with gold-stemmed species, and Paul has found Hedera
helix 'Dragon's Claw' and Acorus gramineus also look good. Drawing on
the oriental theme, a mulch of gravel or perhaps a few carefully chosen stones
or pieces of driftwood can be used to give the finishing touches, however bear
in mind it is the bamboo itself which is the star and which sets the theme - the
chorus line should not detract from it.
Bamboos are available in a variety of sizes to suit every
garden, and have a range of coloured culms and variegated leaves; most remain
evergreen. The sigh of the wind through their graceful plumes of foliage and
contribute greatly to the sights and sounds of a garden, as many countries in
Europe have already discovered. Paul's experimentation has demonstrated that it
is perfectly possible to maintain many species in a pot successfully. Some of
the real 'dragons', which should not be roaming the average garden, can be tamed
by restriction in a container, provided that the work involved in regular
repotting is carried out. The smaller and slower growing members of the group
can make excellent potted specimens, being no more difficult to maintain in pots
than other groups of broadleaved evergreens, provided their watering and feeding
regimes are adequate.
Bamboos can add a touch of evergreen exotica to any garden.
However, be warned - their charms can prove subtly addictive, and the first
plant will almost certainly be followed by another.
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