Gardening tips with Gerry Daly: bamboozled

Bamboos have enjoyed a resurgence of popularity in recent years, recovering ground lost in the two frosty winters a decade ago.

People’s memories are short and vows never to replace damaged bamboos have receded.

Plants that appeared fatally damaged have since recovered, softening the blow of losses. And, many new plants have been planted, often for use as screening. The feathery structure of bamboo is instantly recognisable, even by people with little or no interest in gardening.

It is quite unlike any other plant in the garden, being related to grasses, and having a grass-like appearance with strong woody stems. But these are hollow stems like grasses and new shoots come only from soil level, not branching out on older stems as trees do.

Although, it may grow to 10m tall in its native Asia, it still lacks the bulk of trees. Large plants have become available in recent years and have been widely used to give instant results. As soon as a bamboo enters a garden space, it brings a softness and calm that makes the area feel more pleasant.

The appeal of bamboo is the light grassy foliage, and its texture, and the beauty of the slender stems, which are sometimes coloured yellow or black.

The flowers are hardly noticeable and are produced very rarely. In fact, if flowers are noticed – they look like grass flowers – there is a good chance the plant will die afterwards.

All bamboos spread outwards by producing new shoots each year

This can happen very unpredictably, but many plants can flower at the same time when flowering does occur, and flowering is possibly weather-related in some way.

There are many kinds of bamboos now available to buy, more than ever before. Among the most popular kinds are phyllostachys, fargesia, pseudosasa, pleioblastus and sasa.

There are other rare kinds that enthusiasts collect. It can be difficult to tell bamboo species apart, so just choose one that you like the look of.

All bamboos spread outwards by producing new shoots each year.

These new shoots push out in spring and can run to a metre or more in some kinds, although much less with the clump-forming sorts.

As might be expected, the clump-formers are the most popular kinds and are usually those offered for sale.

Some kinds are reasonably clump-forming, such as the lovely fountain bamboo, Fargesia nitida, one of the most widely grown as it is tough and hardy.

Most will need some kind of control in a small garden, usually by cutting off some of the excessive new shoots each year. If there is plenty of space, bamboos can be allowed to form a large clump or thicket.

Bamboos like shelter and plenty of sunshine, and good, deep soil that does not dry out. Fast growth can be achieved in the early years by feeding with rich compost or well-rotted manure.

If the soil dries out, the plants lose leaves and become very tired in appearance. They cannot take much exposure to wind either, the leaves tending to shatter, and new growth being limited.

Various grass species have become popular in gardens in recent years. Previously, the only grass commonly grown was pampas grass. Now there are lots, such as golden oat grass, blue oat grass, hakonoechloa, miscanthus, feather grass, panicum and chionoachloa. Most of these maintain a presence year-round, some evergreen like the blue oat grass, others dying back like the golden oat grass, but even this maintains some green growth.

They tend to get a bit messy from autumn and some people cut them back at that stage. This can damage and weaken the plants eventually. The grass tops should be left in place until late winter or early spring to get the benefit of their decorative value and to allow the remaining green leaves to continue to photosynthesize during winter and keep the plant going.

Grasses should not be cut back as it weakens them and spoils their natural appearance. About now, the withered grass foliage can be tugged away quite easily in most cases or trimmed off if it does not pull away. Be careful with the saw-edges of some grasses, especially pampas grass, the foliage of which must be cut away. By combing out the loose withered leaves the plant is refreshed in appearance and not spoiled. Do not be tempted to set pampas grass on fire as it can be a fire hazard and can damage adjacent shrubs and trees.

Flowers

Snowdrops and crocuses are beginning to make an appearance. Seeds of geraniums, lobelia, busy lizzie and bedding begonias can be sown in a heated propagator, but it is still too early for most of the easier kinds. Border perennial flowers can be lifted and divided, if necessary.

Fruit, vegetables and herbs

Sow seeds of early varieties of cabbage, cauliflower, carrots, lettuce and onions under protection to raise plants for planting out in April. Seed potatoes of early varieties can be put into a greenhouse or bright place to sprout now; this allows earlier harvesting.

Trees, shrubs and roses

The ground has dried out after settled weather and is good for planting in weed-free ground. If hedging or sapling trees have been purchased, they can be kept for weeks before planting by being heeled in to a trench, after opening out the bundles. Prune roses now.

Lawn

There has been quite a lot of mild weather and early mowing has been carried out. Moss control can be carried out using sulphate of iron. If a lawn area is being prepared for sowing in the spring, it cannot be cultivated until the ground dries, and then raked down.

Greenhouse and house plants

Greenhouse grapevines and peach trees come out of dormancy, and they should be encouraged by gaining as much sun-heat as possible — the earlier the flowers, the earlier the fruit next summer. Clean the glass and close the vents to retain warm air.