Bamboo is a fast-growing and easy-to-care plant that is also ideal for designing a terrace or roof terrace. You can use the evergreen grasses as a privacy screen. Read which bamboo is suitable for keeping in a pot and what you should consider.
How can I design a terrace with bamboo?
To create a patio with bamboo, choose bamboo species with few runners and clumpy growth, such as Fargesia murielae varieties. Plant them in large, heavy ceramic or clay planters and combine them with Asian plants or grasses for a harmonious appearance.
Can you plant bamboo in a balcony box?
Bamboo, no matter what type, forms strong rhizomes and needs a lot of space in the planter. Therefore, if possible, you should not put the taller growing species in a balcony box - it will simply become too small in the long run.
The so-called dwarf bamboo (Pleioblastus pumilus) is not necessarily suitable for such a narrow spatial limitation: the species is not particularly large, growing to around 20 to 100 centimeters tall, but it develops many runners and is therefore in a larger planter better off.
Which types of bamboo are suitable for designing a terrace?
In large masonry and other planters, however, you can cultivate not only dwarf but also other types of bamboo. The varieties that only form a few runners and have a rather clumpy growth are particularly recommended. You should also choose species that reach a maximum height of medium height. The numerous varieties of garden bamboo Fargesia murielae are particularly suitable for container cultivation, some of which can even be planted in balcony boxes.
Experts recommend these Fargesia varieties:
- 'Eala', 'Bimbo' and 'Fresena' for small planters with a capacity of up to 20 liters
- For slightly larger pots from 30 liters also 'Flamingo', 'Falke' and 'Frya'
- for larger containers (from 60 liters capacity) also other Fargesia species such as F. rufa, F. robusta, F. nitida
What do you have to consider when designing a terrace with bamboo?
If you want to design your terrace with bamboo, it must be in a warm and sunny location. Bamboo needs a lot of light for he althy growth and must not be too drafty. In addition, the (preferably square) planters should be as generously sized as possible and made from heavy materials such as ceramic or clay. This not only looks nicer than boring plastic planters, but also offers the plants - which can get quite large and heavy - sufficient support. Also ensure that the bamboo is watered and fertilized regularly. The plants also grow very quickly, which sometimes makes regular pruning necessary.
What can you combine with bamboo?
Bamboo goes perfectly with other plants from Asia such as
- hydrangeas
- Viburnum (Viburnum)
- Camellias
- Funkia
- Japanese Japanese Maple
- Coniferous trees, e.g. B. Pine
Furthermore, flowering plants such as the Japanese dogwood (Cornus kousa), the dune rose (and other wild roses such as Rosa rugosa), magnolias (Magnolia stellata is particularly suitable for pots) and lavender harmonize very well. You can also combine other grasses with bamboo, such as pennisetum grass, bearskin grass, sedges or riding grass.
Tip
How can bamboo be protected in winter?
Although bamboo is hardy, it still needs to be protected from frost when kept in a container. The small amount of soil in the pots freezes quickly at low temperatures, causing the roots to die. That's why you should either overwinter bamboo frost-free (but cool!) or take protective measures: place the pot on a thick wooden board near a warm wall and wrap it with garden fleece or something similar.
