I need a very fast growing hedge/screen. I am from North Texas, zone 8a
42 Replies
There is never a good time to plant bamboo. Please do not plant it.
Unless you are planting one of the safe clumping-variety types, it is always the wrong time of year to plant bamboo. It is highly invasive and will spread and be impossible to kill. I believe you can be held responsible to pay for removal if it spreads to your neighbor’s yard. I would use extreme caution if you decide to do this.
We live in a house but have livestock no climb fence/metal pipes. You can see through it to our neighbors yard. We are also trying to screen our yard so we bought a bunch of Texas Sage. It's supposed to grow to be 4-5ish feet wide and 5-7 feet tall. They are supposed to reach maturity in about two years....they grow fast. They stay green year round and the kind we bought flowers purple when it rains. Just an idea for you!
Is anyone reading the word clumping?
Short answer: No. Clumping bamboo is not considered invasive.
Here’s the quick breakdown in your style:
Clumping bamboo
• Grows in tight, compact clumps.
• Spreads very slowly outward—usually only a few inches per year.
• Roots grow in a circle, not runners shooting across your yard.
• Safe for small yards and planting near fences.
Running bamboo is the invasive one.
• Sends runners everywhere.
• Can take over a yard and your neighbor’s too.
If you stick to clumping varieties (often labeled Bambusa or Fargesia), you’re good.
Its never a good time, or always a good time, depending on how you feel about bamboo.
It will take over your yard and all your neighbors’ yard pretty quickly, unless you plant clumping bamboo.
That being said, I have clumping bamboo, and other than the clumps getting larger in diameter over the years, it stays put, doesn’t run.
Anytime is the wrong time!
Terrible idea and veerrryyy inconsiderate of your neighbors. There are plenty of other options for privacy fences.
We planted ours in the fall in 2009 and love it. Created a great privacy screen but still maintained air flow through the carport and privacy in our backyard. The shade helps with cooler temps in that area. I don't find the growth of it that explosive. I doubt it expands 6 inches a year, probably less.
I hope all you want is bamboo and neighbors coming to complain about your bamboo in their yard.
We passed on buying a house because I learned on this page how invasive it is and the possibility of having the neighbors coming after us to remediate their yards too it was a hard no
Seriously no. We had to rent a backhoe to literally dig up the whole backyard before selling our grandparents house and they STILL came back. Do not plant them directly in the ground. There are so many other plants you can use.
Check out Lewis Bamboo on line for different varieties that do not spread.
Don’t do it. It will take over EVERYTHING. there are about 10 other things you can do besides that
Don’t do it!
Plant Buddha Belly. It’s a clumping bamboo. We’ve had it in the corner of our yard for 15 years and it hasn’t invaded our neighbors or the rest of our flowerbeds
Never ever ever plant bamboo.
Bamboo is AWFUL
Once it roots in it spreads like wildfire into your yard and you will never get rid of it.
Bad idea.
Never plant it, very invasive
It is ALWAYS the wrong time of the Trae to plant Bamboo.
PLEASE don’t listen to the alarmists. Yes, running bamboo can be invasive unless you dig and put in underground barriers and I would not recommend it unless you have a very large property. Clumping bamboo on the other hand, spreads very slowly and is easily managed. I’ve used clumping bamboo as a screen between properties with little maintenance and no concerns. You simply prune any new shoots that are growing beyond the desired boundary.
A tall screen like the ones used at tennis courts will hide the view.
Don’t plant bamboo! Your neighbors will hate you as it spreads to their yards!
Don’t just don’t!!!!!
Yeah just don't! That stuff is so invasive and impossible to get rid of.
Read up on keeping bamboo contained. Bamboo getting into neighbor’s yard could land you in front of a Judge Wapner.
Anytime is a bad time.
Sage. Prettier, non invasive, drought tolerant
How about gardenia, camellia, wax Myrtle, southern magnolia, holly, azalea, or even boxwood?
Crepe Myrtle makes a nice screen. (But not good if it is in a place to shed on cars.)
Ligustrum—but has to be kept trimmed.
We used nandina—but it’s not recommended because it spreads too freely—and is spread by wildlife. We didn’t know better!
Call your county agent. They often have lists of good choices. A local garden club or a local nursery can help.
Box stores and chain store nurseries are not usually well-informed on local conditions. What’s good in one area might be a poor choice elsewhere.
You better think twice, then a few more times!!!
Lealand cypress! Or get a lawyer n get thrm tied up n litagation so theyll gave no money to build!
If you have close neighbors expect to have legal action filed against you when your bamboo invades the neighbors yard. Planting it is a horrible idea.
Wax myrtle
Rent a ditch witch, put in a barrier and you're fine. It won't spread at all
If you don't mind something aggressive, do Trumpet Vine. It grows quick and you can basically never get rid of it, but at least it's native so birds and bugs can use it. Yellow Jessamine is also beautiful and grows very quickly. Crossvine and coral honeysuckle are also quick-growing and native. Wax Myrtle and Yaupon Holly bothgrow relatively quick, and they're evergreen shrubs, so you get year-round coverage.
Fence, to stop business from encroaching on the neighborhood. Yes it can be done. We had two put up . You have to petition neighbors. It takes effort. The city approved it, they should protect the neighborhood.
An RV park belongs in a certain zone. Your neighbors yard isn’t a business zone but residential most likely. When our neighbors were going to build RV storage across the street from our property, I gathered a petition since they were trying to change that zoning ordinance to build. Talk to your city planning and zoning department about this.
Pompous hrassy
I think Pamoas grass would work
I planted native pine trees that I just dug from my woods they grow so fast and make an excellent hedge. Just don’t plant them too close together.
I would do a screen of Arizona cypress. They grow very fast and are super hardy for our area. They are beautiful and birds love to nest in them. They will get large and completely hide your neighbors. If you wanted to mix in some darker evergreen you could add in some eastern cedars. Now is a good time to plant.
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