Planting non-invasive bamboo in the garden.
Many bamboos are spectacular, with beautiful coloured canes in shades of rosy red, mellow yellow, black, and bold greens. The plant descriptions make bamboo sound tempting, "fully hardy instant screening", but they can be absolute thugs, which run amok in the garden and into next door's garden. They can be hard to contain and almost impossible to kill unless you choose the right ones.
The key is to check, and check again, and to buy a non-invasive clumping variety as opposed to bamboos known as "runners". In the images above, one is a good bamboo (left) and one is a bad bamboo (right.) You cannot tell by looking at them, it's a question of picking the right one. Having checked out a few on-line retailers, most seem to be silent whether the bamboo is invasive, but there is sometimes a hint when the retailer suggests surrounding the roots with a non-perishable barrier. Truth is, it is very difficult to contain a running bamboo with a physical barrier. Just give it a miss.
Bamboos have a bad reputation. But they also have charm, and you can have a well-behaved bamboo in your garden that does not take over or send out massive runners to invade the rest of the garden. Bamboo can be useful for screening areas or objects and providing you pick the right one. It's safe to grow.
A "non-invasive" bamboo is a tautology, as there is no such thing as a totally non-invasive bamboo, as it is a vigorous plant. However, there are several varieties that are not classified as invasive, which are relatively well-behaved and will not take over your and your neighbour's garden.
Which Bamboos are safe to grow?
Which bamboos are the best to grow?
We call the safer-to-grow garden bamboo "clump-forming," unlike "running" bamboo which, as its name suggests, produces long underground rhizomes that spread rapidly. The Bamboo illustrated making a shady seat is Fargesia, and I planted it in this spot about 10 years ago. It is clear from the image that it is of a manageable size and well contained.
Non invasive bamboo suggestions:
Fargesia, of which there are several popular varieties commonly grown:
F. rufa grows up to 3m, good for pots (so easy to contain) available from Crocus (affiliate links)
F 'Red panda' up to 1.5m with thick stems first green, yellow and finally turning red, available from Crocus.
and F.murielae up to 4m, dense evergreen.
Shibataea is a low-growing, up to 1.5m , compact variety and although it has rhizomes, it does not spread uncontrollably. It is ideal to grow in a container or as a low hedge.
If you are considering planting near a pond, which is a popular choice, just think about the pond liner and ensure the bamboo is not too close. It is probably considerate not to plant near a boundary so that it will not spill over to your neighbour's garden or into the wild. Remember, all bamboos are vigorous and are best not planted near foundations, structures, boundaries, ponds, and if you are not sure, go for a safer choice, grasses. There are plenty of tall grasses that are equally graceful, have and are low risk.
Bamboos to avoid planting
Avoid planting the following bamboos which are considered invasive:
Phyllostachys aurea common name Golden bamboo
Pseudosasa japonica common name Arrow bamboo
Phyllostachys aureosulcata common name Yellow groove bamboo
Phyllostachys bissetii common name just Bissetii
Phyllostachys rubromarginata Red margin bamboo
Phyllostachys nigra Black bamboo
There are many more invasive bamboos and Wiki has a list of all bamboos classified as runner or clumper, well worth checking before you buy.