Episode 17

Dealing with self-sown seedlings
Sowing ornamental grasses from seed
Taking root cuttings of Japanese anemones
Planting bamboo
Using seating in the garden
Making a bespoke table & bench
Planting sedges
What to look for when buying spring bulbs

If you plan to plant a bamboo in your garden, here are a few things to bear in mind.

1. Do your homework before you buy or seek the advice of a specialist supplier. Some species are much more invasive than others.

2. Don’t feel as though you have to spend a fortune on huge plants. Young plants often overtake big ones because they establish better.

3. Bamboos appreciate a sheltered position away from strong winds that might damage their foliage. Fargesias, as a rule, prefer semi-shade whilst the canes (culms) of Phyllostachys colour up best in full sun.

4. All bamboos tend to be heavy feeders preferring a humus-rich soil. They need adequate moisture in summer but must never get waterlogged. On light soils, add plenty of well-rotted organic matter to the soil beforehand. But if you garden on clay, add coarse grit, composted bark or well-rotted manure to improve drainage. On very wet soils, consider planting your bamboo on a low mound.

5. Bamboos are classed as either clumpers or runners depending on how their rhizomes behave. Clumpers are best for confined spaces. Runners need room to spread or need to be contained in some way. One option is to sink a continuous vertical barrier at planting with the top 10cm protruding above the surface. To be effective, this needs to be made of non-degradable material, be at least 60cm deep and no less than 1mm thick. Specialist bamboo suppliers often sell root barriers by the metre, but Toby used heavy duty polythene normally sold for damp-proof course.