Don't be bamboozled by bamboo

Would you like a bamboo in your garden, but are worried that it might get out of control? Martyn Cox considers the best to choose for your garden

- Martyn Cox

IT’S long been recognised that once a doctor reveals their occupation at a dinner party, they will find themselves hounded for medical advice. Well, it’s the same for professional horticulturists. When I’m introduced to people at a social gathering, I brace myself for the inevitable response – a flurry of gardening queries.

Over the years, I must have solved hundreds of problems while mingling at parties, but one question seems to crop up more than most: “What do I do with a bamboo that’s out of control?” I’ve lost count of the times I’ve been asked to come to the rescue of a poor bamboo owner who’s at their wits’ end.

I’m only too happy to dish out some helpful advice when pressed, but I can’t help thinking that the poor gardener could have saved themselves a lot of bother from the outset – not by steering clear of this huge family of architectural plants, but by selecting a bamboo that is more reasonably behaved.

Dealing with an invasive bamboo running amok in a border is not the only problem caused by poor selection. There are plenty of gardens with varieties that are too tall or too wide for the available space, or contain bamboos with a weeping habit, whose canes obstruct paths, patios and driveways.

A bad experience with bamboo in the past might put you off for life, but my advice is to give them a second chance. Put the right variety in the right place and they’re hard to beat for year-round interest, impact, structure and style. They also require very little maintenance and are rarely bothered by pests and diseases.