Bamboo as Managed Cover Patch

[Melky]

I have been using an exotic bamboo very successfully as a wind break and shade around the north and west sides of my poultry yard. It appears not to provide much in the way of forage but is assume for loafing. That application has strips running along entire fence row that are 10 feet wide. I am going to explore using a patch that is much closer to square and covers roughly 1/10 acre. Paths will be managed in with a lawn mower. Will also try to make so young birds can roost in it without being harassed by Great-horned Owl at night. Another smaller patch based on the native species will also be tried in a wetter location at edge of fen. Historically when Amerindian populations were forced out, their abandoned farm land was taking over by expansive canebrakes made up of the native species. Hopefully I can find some starts from one the remnants close by.

Feed stations and water bowls can be kept next to the patches to promote young chickens staying their during periods of extreme heat.

Transplanting will occur in March. I perimeter fence will protect patches from larger animals that will do harm to the patches. My estimates are 4 years will pass before patches close up and become dense enough to provide cover. Goats / sheep will supplement control with lawn mower.


Supposed to be in management section.

My husband planted bamboo as a privacy screen between me and my neighbor and I would not do this again as the shoots are invasive into the yard and can not grow anything around it as it sucks up all the water and sun. It is a terrible maintenance job to cut back each year all year long. Someone commented to make sure have a clear perimeter 25 ft plus to mow around. Not kidding. More like 50ft plus. The spikes come up all over my back yard. Too invasive. Also predators hide in the bamboo and provide cover for them entering your yard. The chickens would be at risk around these areas because it camouflages predators. Ours is near the woods which compounds the camouflage issue. My chickens walk near it but never go in it and encourage them to stay in yard where I can see them so not at risk for predator attack rest of time in fenced run.

 

[centrarchid]

Here is it not that problematic. I have had current stands for almost a decade without trouble. My brother, from whom I got my starts, has had the stuff for about 25 years without trouble. Stands are in middle of property and serve purpose best is mowed tied around it.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Pull up a stalk of bamboo roots and all. Leave the leaves on the sides of the canes intact. Dig a shallow trench and lay each cane (roots and all) in the bottom of the trench then cover the cane leaving the side leaves exposed. Bamboo will not migrate below water so one can grow it on an island without the danger of it spreading. An old friend of mine worked for the University of Alabama and he was tasked with restoring an old Antebellum home. There was a large patch of bamboo growing there and I am unsure what species it was but he told me that it took him and his fellow workers years and years to banish bamboo from this property. I don't remember which way was which but bamboo has problems spreading either up hill or down hill. Do your due diligence.

You can also use a long bamboo pole and a short fishing line to jigger pole fish in locations where you can't cast. Just remember to pull your catch in hand over hand.

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?...E7BD991B85553574EC7FE7BD991B85553&FORM=VDQVAP

 

[Compost King]

Bamboo is great lumber resource too. I do not have any patches of my own but neighbors do and they hate to clear it so I do it for them. Most of my fences are bamboo weaved into Chicken wire. Just an example of what can be done with Bamboo here is a coop construction picture where you can see 2 feet of 2 inch chicken wire at the bottom and 8 foot bamboo poles to make a fence chickens can't fly over.

 

[centrarchid]

Pull up a stalk of bamboo roots and all. Leave the leaves on the sides of the canes intact. Dig a shallow trench and lay each cane (roots and all) in the bottom of the trench then cover the cane leaving the side leaves exposed. Bamboo will not migrate below water so one can grow it on an island without the danger of it spreading. An old friend of mine worked for the University of Alabama and he was tasked with restoring an old Antebellum home. There was a large patch of bamboo growing there and I am unsure what species it was but he told me that it took him and his fellow workers years and years to banish bamboo from this property. I don't remember which way was which but bamboo has problems spreading either up hill or down hill. Do your due diligence.

You can also use a long bamboo pole and a short fishing line to jigger pole fish in locations where you can't cast. Just remember to pull your catch in hand over hand.

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?...E7BD991B85553574EC7FE7BD991B85553&FORM=VDQVAP

Will try that approach as well.

 

[centrarchid]

I am working out boundaries for the main canebrake. Will be about 0.09 acres to if it is to be kept square. I will do a burn just before doing plantings in early March. What amounts to a time lapse will be made to track development. Some of the images below show invasive plants that will be crowded out by the bamboo. Plants I want out include Bradford Pear, Russian / Autumn Olive, cedar trees and the maple trees.

I may cut "notches" into the canebreak for placing cock pens when it get really hot or cold.

Over the holidays I will initiate rooting of cuttings. Need to round up rooting hormone and wax.


Diaganol shot from NE to SW corner. Entire area slopes to SE.

East edge where most right will be bamboo.

North edge.

NE corner is fence post. Gravel edge to left of post.

West edge with fence to right.

South edge. Die Bradford Pears, die!

More Bradford Pears.

 

[centrarchid]

Today my son and I transplanted about 20 plants. The taller plants were positioned on their side with a clod of dirt to promote rooting. Several colms were also planted with really good prospects. Efforts to promote rooting indoors over winter failed.

 

[Biddybot]

I let a naturally occurring short hedge and clump of knotweed grow up right next to the north fence by the chicken runs. Considered an invasive, but I don't care. I think it looks nice and the birds love it. They love hanging out in it--I call it their 'back to the jungle' hangout--plus they even like EATING it, so there's a natural browse line and they keep it quite clear at ground level and like to scratch around the clumps of stalks. A cool spot on hot days. Easy to control if it's right next to a lawn...the constant mowing takes care of any unwanted shoots, otherwise it does spread very fast and nothing else will grow under it, hence why most gardeners hate it. By far the chicken's favourite cover plant, followed closely by the old fashioned rugosa rose hedge. Makes a wonderful natural wind break to boot if you've got chain link fencing and takes a virtual hurricane to knock it down...very tough plant that dies right down to the roots every winter, then shoots right up anew a good eight feet or more every spring.

Even our little native spring peeper frogs like to hang out in my little mini knotweed jungle...yeah, I think I'll keep encouraging it, exotic invasive designation be damned!