Residence in Santa Monica

Black bamboo planted in a slot alongside the property line fence in the backyard with a concrete slab on the neighbors side.  Owner keeps the canes nicely trimmed to show their character against the fence.  The owner is using canes cut from their vulgaris vittata to create crosspieces along the fence to hold back their black bamboo plants so they grow as upright as possible - they tie cord to the fence stringers to create slings and then put the vulgaris canes thru the slings.  It's very easy and does the job beautifully.  Because the space is so limited along the walkway, this keeps the black bamboo foliage up above head level and creates a denser screen above the fence.
 

  2004 photo

Unfortunately the Bambusa vulgaris vittata in the front yard created a serious problem.  It was planted next to the concrete driveway, and after growing for six years the healthy and massive rhizome system began to crack and lift the concrete slab.  The owner decided the only possible solution was to dig it out and replace the slab.  The removal was quite a project - the workers brought in grinders for the roots but didn't go very deep.  The mason had to chop by hand to make room just to set his forms.  It was a very expensive project.  After seeing this project I am warning all our customers to pour 2' deep concrete barriers next to any slab they want to protect from large clumping bamboos near the slab.

        2004 photos