Bamboo

[juchestyle]

Hey Everyone,

I am here to make a difference and I have been brain storming.  So I was thinking to myself that there are spots all over the place where there is nothing planted but grass right.  Why is that bad?  Well, first we have to pay someone to mow that grass, second they have to drive to that location to mow (carbon outlay) thirdly, they mow that area (carbon outlay), fourthly they have to drive back (carbon outlay.)

So there are Four negitives to growing nothing but grass!

Next point, we know that bamboo provides more co2 conversion to oxygen over the same square footage of trees!  That is because Bamboo grows so fast, and closer together; it is resilent stuff and grows very easily.  Within three years bamboo can spread greatly both vertically and horizontally.  After three years of a tree growing it might be a couple feet tall. 

So planting bamboo would be a much better use of our resources.  Not only that, but bamboo really is beautiful isn't it.  And it provides lots of shade for people and buildings.  It can cover up eye sores and makes everything more brillant because of the color.  It grows thick so it provides both a security barrier and also a noise barrier as well.

For all of these reasons I have come to the conclusion that I want to start trying to plant bamboo in areas that can take it.  There are many places around highways and over and underpasses where this would really excel.

I realize that some people think bamboo is an evasive plant.  There is truth to that, and at the same time if you plant it in the right spots it could add much beauty to our environments.  I have been scouting out many spots as I have been driving around my city and I see many opportunities.  I hope to get a digital camera and share some pictures of places that it would be great!

Between now and then, what does everyone think?!

Phoenix

[te_3ko]

Sounds like a good idea if thought out thoroughly before hand. Possibly only plant in raised concrete beds(broken walls, unused planters, etc.) so as to not send runners out and push up through the street or concrete.

I would love to do this to my front yard instead of grass, but my HOA wont allow it. A nice narrow path through bamboo to my doorway sounds nice.

[monatives]

Hey juchestyle!

I've been working landscape and restoration for over 5 years now and while I love bamboo for contained gardens, I absolutely agree with you on it's invasive qualities. 

I would avoid using any very tall or running varieties altogether as they have a tendency to take over everything with their super invasive root systems (I know that's kind of your point but we don't want to go breaking any drainage pipes or water mains do we?) 

I would also avoid planting them anywhere near any watersheds or other areas where they can invade our natural areas.  Invasive plants have destroyed thousands of acres of habitat across California by pushing out native plants thereby removing necessary food and shelter for the creatures that depend on them. 
Watersheds and lagoons especially are habitats where restoration efforts to remove bamboo and invasive grasses are contant, expensive, and necessary to restore breeding habitat for native birds.  The LA River and San Elijo lagoon are only two such watersheds where these efforts are taking place. 

I hate lawns also but there are thousands of alternatives.  Bamboo is great for super contained urban areas.  Areas that are more natural or where invasive plants could cause problems (like near a watershed, under freeway overpasses that aren't in the middle of downtown, or near any natural spaces) are great places for things like native plants that will not only be suitable to our environment but will provide food and habitat for our native birds and butterflies that are being displaced by development as well as being drought tolerant!

Here are some cool websites:

California Invasive Plant Council - www.cal-ipc.org
Wiser Earth - www.wiserearth.org

Good luck in your efforts!!

[yowzer]

can boo be grown from seed? if so what size are the seeds?