| Growing tips and advice for bamboo and grasses in | | | | important as most true grasses relish the sun and do |
| the UK. Growing tips for plant care and garden advice | | | | best when the have maximum exposure to it, even |
| on hardy bamboo plants ornamental grasses plus | | | | through the winter months. This is because grasses |
| sedges and ferns for contemporary European or | | | | including bamboo are incredibly sophisticated plants |
| prairie plantings bogland wetland areas or gravel and | | | | when it comes to converting sunlight to energy |
| dry gardens.If you give a plant growing conditions | | | | through photosynthesis. Most grasses including |
| that are similar to those that it thrives in the wild | | | | bamboo, with a few exceptions do not generally do |
| then that plant will usually do very well. Its not | | | | well in shade. However sedges and rushes do. Once |
| always as easy as it sounds. Every garden has its | | | | you have determined the limitations of your |
| own microclimate and although there are one or two | | | | boundaries you will have a good idea where grasses |
| things we can possibly do to improve that, usually by | | | | and sedges belong.The exposure to wind and |
| adding or growing wind breaks, creating sun traps | | | | elements will depend to a degree of openness of |
| and opening up shaded areas the options are fairly | | | | your garden. The prevailing winds, coastal conditions, |
| limited.There is nothing on the other hand we can do | | | | altitude, and geographical location will all have an |
| about the overall climate in general. Living in the UK | | | | effect on the microclimate of your garden. Exposure |
| means we are living the temperate zone where our | | | | to wind is probably the most damaging as it can |
| climate is very much influenced by the fact we are | | | | desiccate plants and dry out the soil very quickly |
| an island. The presence of the gulf stream blessing us | | | | even in the winter months. It may be possible to |
| with milder winters than we possibly deserve for our | | | | erect physical windbreaks such as fences or screens, |
| latitude particularly when compared with | | | | however there are many bamboos and grasses that |
| corresponding latitudes in central China ,where the | | | | stand up extremely well to exposed conditions and |
| winters can be extremely cruel. Many of the | | | | the larger species can be used to good effect on the |
| ornamental bamboos come from these areas in China | | | | boundaries to form a quick growing living screen that |
| such as Ganshu, Sezchuan, Zhejiang where the | | | | is far cheaper more attractive and wonderfully |
| seasonal changes are far more extreme than we | | | | animated in the wind when compared to conventional |
| experience in the United Kingdom. As a consequence | | | | fencing.Knowing your soil types is essential. I say |
| we can easily grow bamboos such as Phyllostachys | | | | types, as even the smallest garden may have a |
| Bissettii which is hardy down to minus 23 degrees | | | | variety of different soil compositions and varying PH |
| without much worry.However on the other hand we | | | | levels in it. Most grasses and bamboos are unfussy |
| do not have such intensely hot summers, so where a | | | | about the PH but there is always the one or to that |
| bamboo like Bissettii will quite easily reach over 12 | | | | are, so check the lists above. . Composition of the |
| meters or more in its home environment we can | | | | soil is also important, a shaded area on the |
| expect it to make about two thirds of that in our | | | | north-facing wall of your property may prove to be |
| climate. Usual between 5 and 8 meters depending on | | | | extremely dry due to its shelter from the prevailing |
| whereabouts in the UK we are situated. Still a | | | | wet weather winds, absorption from the footings, or |
| respectable size for a larger garden and quite | | | | excess drainage created by a high proportion of |
| formidable for an average one.Although bamboos are | | | | builders rubble and sand that has been left or |
| true grasses their needs differ from many of the | | | | backfilled.These conditions are not conducive to most |
| ornamental grasses. Where the majority of grasses | | | | sedges or ferns and in fact not conducive to much |
| are happy with impoverished soil and handle severe | | | | at all. The options here are to dig out the planting |
| drought condition and exposure to the elements such | | | | area and isolate the footings by placing a polythene |
| as wind bamboos are a little more fuss though with a | | | | sheet or damp course between the wall footings and |
| little care in choosing your plants you should be able | | | | then replacing the soil after it has been much |
| to cope with most situations. In China much of the | | | | improved with lots of organic manure or compost |
| very best bamboos grow in hollows and shallow | | | | and possibly riddled as well. If you also have areas |
| valleys protected from the drying winds yet still | | | | that have a suitable aspect for grasses, but tend to |
| enjoying maximum sunshine and the benefits of a | | | | be heavy and wet, then you can improve those |
| moist and fertile pockets at the bottom of the | | | | areas by digging in plenty of sharp sand grit or shingle |
| depression.You probably have a picture in your minds | | | | to improve the drainage. Unlike bamboos and sedges |
| eye of what you would like your garden to look like, | | | | grasses don't have a high nutrient requirement in fact |
| but please take a moment before you start ordering | | | | many do best on poor soil so there is no great need |
| your plants to make a basic appraisal of your gardens | | | | to incorporate organic manures or fertilizers.An |
| disposition with regard to the soil type the aspect | | | | excellent way to maintain drainage in these areas is |
| and its exposure and also the shadow boundaries, a | | | | to make a gravel garden where a number of |
| factor that is often overlooked. Once you know | | | | specimen clump forming grasses can be shown off |
| what you have, you will be able to assess weather it | | | | to advantage within an area of gravel mulch. This will |
| can be improved or altered. If its not possible to | | | | effectively suppress unwanted weeds and the gravel |
| improve or alter your garden or the costs are | | | | will work its way down over time into the soil and |
| prohibitive then it may be necessary to compromise | | | | preserve its open structure an drainage. Bamboos on |
| a little. Now I mean compromise a little, because | | | | the other hand do best with a fertile free draining |
| although the grasses you had originally planed to put | | | | and evenly moist soil. They will however tolerate |
| in a particular position or situation may now appear | | | | most condition except to excess. Perhaps their |
| unsuitable due to the fact that position is shaded or | | | | biggest dislikes are waterlogged ground and dense |
| far to wet . Dont worry there are loads of | | | | shade. Like grasses they do not take a lot of looking |
| alternatives amongst the sedges and ferns that will | | | | after if placed in the right spot with their minimum |
| literally thrive in those conditions and are very capable | | | | basic requirements plus a hair cut, comb through and |
| of producing some of the most unusual and | | | | brush up and an occasional feed.The problems to be |
| attractive displays that you could wish for.There is a | | | | aware of with bamboos is that some are clumpers |
| saying about putting the wrong plant in the wrong | | | | and well behaved, ideal for specimen planting in lawns |
| place. Basically its bull and the rest can go with the | | | | or as a backdrop for herbaceous perennials. The |
| organic much. There is no such thing as the wrong | | | | others are runners beware some are rampant, such |
| plant; they are all the right plants, just some of them | | | | as the staggeringly beautiful Chimonobambusa |
| get put in the wrong places. Use your eyes and look | | | | Tumidissinoda from China who like Genghis Kahn with |
| around you and appraise. Do your home work and | | | | his hoards will gallop across your lawn and into next |
| find out which plant suits the soil type which aspect | | | | doors in no time at all. These bamboos are best kept |
| is best for that particular plant then you wont go far | | | | I containers and they do well being shown off and |
| wrong. Finally if you have planted a bamboo or grass | | | | appreciated as such. You can find more information |
| and it does not look like its doing well, then dig it up | | | | and pictures on growing bamboos and grasses at |
| and move it somewhere else dont worry about the | | | | The Pot and Grass Company.Peter Corbett. Is a |
| right time, the right time is right now, while its looking | | | | collector of rare grasses and ornamental bamboos |
| poorly not when its dead. The plant wants to survive | | | | and written several articles on the subject. Peter |
| as much as you want it to do.Before deciding what | | | | advices and assists his wife Heather who runs the |
| and where you are going to plant make an | | | | Pot and Grass Company Nursery and mail order |
| assessment of the area. If you can try to do it early | | | | company specialising in bamboos and grasses. Peter |
| in the year so you have plenty of time to plan ahead. | | | | has a keen interest in Chinese metaphysics and has |
| This is also a good time to determine where the | | | | lived and travelled extensively through SE Asia and |
| shadow boundaries are. In the early months of the | | | | mainland China. Peter has written a book on Feng |
| year, the sun is low on the horizon and the shadows | | | | Shui "Qi Concepts for energy engineering" which is |
| extend further into the garden. Look out on a bright | | | | available for purchase from the Pot and Grass |
| day and mark the extent of those boundaries with a | | | | company online store or available as a free down |
| couple of pegs. Determining these boundaries is quite | | | | load to customers. |