Inspired by me!
Well, it's happened. I've finally inspired somebody. I've mentioned it before but most of my readers arrive here through a Google search, and recently I was emailed by somebody who wanted to build a planter box for bamboo.
I've posted about this topic several times before, and it's nice to know that somebody is finding those posts to be useful. Let's take a closer look...
Although my boxes are placed on a base of pavers to keep rhizomes from escaping into the soil, the homeowner building this particular box wanted to be extra-sure to avoid escapes.
So he put down a rock base...
...covered it with pavers and built the box on that...
...but then even raised the box off of the pavers a bit.
Edged with rhizome barrier material (the stuff that is typically used in-ground to prevent rhizomes from spreading) with some gravel for drainage...
...this redwood box is a thing of beauty!
With a few nice "Temple Bamboo" (Semiarundinaria fastuosa) specimens, they have an "instant" green screen, with no worry about the bamboo escaping.
I'm glad that I could help in some little way to bring this wonderful bamboo and planter box project to light!
Thanks to Rick Lehrbaum for giving me permission to write about his project -- all photos in this post are his.
.
I love it! This is the kind of thing I wish I had.
You bamboo growers must enjoy the satisfaction of taming something dangerous and wild! I worry about keeping my obedient plant in line!
And hey! I found you when I was googling around looking for ponds and streams. Google lands me in good places sometimes!
How wonderful for both you and Rick!
What zone is this in? I'd like to do the same in zone 7. Wondering if I need to insulate the walls?
This is California, so probably zone 8 or 9? In z7 I think you'd be fine with uninsulated walls as long as you have good contact with the ground and if you're planting a cold-hardy temperate bamboo.
We want to copy your project! What were the dimensions of the box? Also, did you cover the bottom of the box with the rhizome barrier material or is the gravel sitting directly on the wood? Some sites say to line the entire box, but I worry about drainage. Thanks!