Bamboo plants in run

[I-Have-Happy-Hens]

No Bambo is a very bad idea, it takes over and kills anything else it grows a foot forward every year.

 

[moonlyghtegirl]

If you want bamboo, the easy way to have it is to sink it in tubs, and make sure the tub (feed trough, etc.) is set so the lip of the tub is above ground level. I learned this trick from a nursery owner who specializes in bamboo.

 

[joebryant]

Don't do it. This ain't the orient; bamboo is non-native and will eventually be a pain in the neck.
Getcherself some small starts out of anyplace that has lots of small seedlings of all sorts of native plants, and transplant them to your chicken's grazing area. In time, you'll have lots of protective, easily controlled cover for them.

 

[Big Dreamer]

A good plant that wont take over your yard like invasive bamboo is beautiful has 1 foot wide leaves and grows super fast until adult size which is 40ft tall and 30ft wide is the royal empress. i am getting 2 in the spring to cover a bare spot in the backyard and in the duck pen for shade, and the first year the grow 18ft tall and then on they grow pretty fast too. In the spring they loose all their leaves and they grow beautiful purple pink flowers all over the branches and they give off an amazing smell, what ive heard of them. since the leaves are so big there arent many branches and when the leaves fall off its easy to clean because there are only a few huge leaves. even if you chop them down they grow right back up because they grow from the roots, so if you clip one of the roots off and put it in dirt another one will sprout form it, so i think they would be hard to remove because of the regrow roots, but no one has said they wanted to get rid of it because its so beautiful and worth it, research it more and i think youll fall in love!!

http://www.royalempresstrees.com/

 

[joebryant]

Quote:
http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=pato2
Another invasive, non-native weed tree:
Noxious Weed Information:
Paulownia tomentosa (Thunb.) Siebold & Zucc. ex Steud.

This plant is listed by the U.S. federal government or a state. Common names are from state and federal lists. Click on a place name to get a complete noxious weed list for that location, or click here for a composite list of all Federal and State Noxious Weeds.
Connecticut:
princess tree Potentially invasive, banned


U.S. Weed Information:
Paulownia tomentosa (Thunb.) Siebold & Zucc. ex Steud.

princess tree

This plant can be weedy or invasive according to the authoritative sources noted below. This plant may be known by one or more common names in different places, and some are listed above. Click on an acronym to view each weed list, or click here for a composite list of Weeds of the U.S.
SEEPPC Southeast Exotic Pest Plant Council. 1996. Invasive exotic pest plants in Tennessee (19 October 1999). Research Committee of the Tennessee Exotic Pest Plant Council. Tennessee.

 

[justbugged]

There are many types of bamboo. Some are horrible to try and control, others take many years to mature in to a decent size of clump. I have black bamboo that was in the chicken run. We finally removed it. It was struggling to thrive after a a year of living with the chickens. It seems to be much happier in it new spot. The biggest trick is to do your research before you buy. Some bamboo is best planted in concrete vaults (or water troughs that have the bottoms cut out for drainage.) to keep them from spreading. There is also many different sizes in the heights of bamboo varieties. I love my bamboo, it's perfect for a suburban back yard. I would like some more, but I will for sure make informed decisions about the variety that I buy.

 

[Big Dreamer]

On some websites it says that they are invasive, but they said there are two kinds, what ive read and it says that some are the invasive one and then others are non-invasive, it depends on where you get them from. Thats what ive read on sites that sell this plant.

 

[justbugged]

There hundreds of bamboo species, it is just about finding the right variety for what you need.


I have never seen any evidence that the Empress trees in the Northwest have become invasive to this area. They gorgeous huge trees. I would love to have one, but I don't have the space for one in my little yard.

 

[kitkatnoah]

I have a non invasive bamboo species in my backyard that provides shade for my chickens. I cut down the thick limbs and use them as roosting branches inside my run for the flock. My chickens don't eat the new bamboo shoots but they do dig around in it looking for bugs and they will take a dust bath in it.

 

[lotsachicks]

Thanks so much for all the replies, I definately have some research to do! I'm just trying to find something that can thrive and provide cover and shade in my climate. South Texas is really hot, and its either really dry or really wet, never just right. The trees that grow here, mainly mesquite, dont grow very tall, dont provide much shade, and sadly I have none in the run area. I do live on ten acres and I'm only minimally worried about the invasive factor. If it getts bad, well it will give the kids something to do on those occasions they find themselves grounded and in need of physical labor.

I have seen bamboo growing around our city zoo and it seems to do well so I was hoping it would make it out here too. Just for reference for ya'll out in the cold, it was 82 degrees here today!