Planting a Bamboo Privacy Screen

Why bamboo works as a screen (and the catch)

Bamboo is evergreen in most climates and grows quickly once it is established, which is why it is a popular living screen. It can block a view, soften a boundary and add movement and sound. If bamboo is not right for your site, tall ornamental grasses for privacy screens are a deciduous alternative.

The catch is that “bamboo” covers very different plants. Some form tidy clumps, and others spread by underground runners and will cross a property line if left alone. Choosing the right type matters more than any other decision here.

Choose clumping or running

• Clumping bamboo expands slowly outward from a central clump. It is the usual recommendation for a boundary screen, because it generally needs little containment.
• Running bamboo fills in faster and can make a dense screen, but it needs a rhizome barrier, a pot, or regular root pruning to keep it where you want it.

If the screen runs along a neighbour’s boundary, a path, or a patio, most gardeners are better off with clumping types. For the full comparison, see running vs clumping bamboo.

Choosing a species for height, density and zone

Work through these questions before looking at plant names:

1. What is your hardiness zone? Tropical clumpers such as many Bambusa are for mild climates. Cold-hardy clumpers such as Fargesia suit cooler areas but often want afternoon shade and dislike hot, humid summers. Hardy running types such as some Phyllostachys handle a wide range. See cold-hardy bamboo varieties if winters are cold.
2. How tall do you need it? Species range from shrub-sized to very tall. A screen planted for a 6-foot fence and a screen planted to hide a second-storey window need different plants. Published maximum heights are reached only in ideal conditions after many years, and gardeners in cooler climates should expect plants to come in below the listed figure.
3. How dense should it be at the bottom? Bamboos with very thick canes tend to be bare low down and leafy higher up. Smaller species and many Fargesia are usually dense to ground level. If you need privacy at fence height, choose a bushy, smaller species.
4. How wide will the clump get? Even clumping types widen over the years. Check the mature spread so the screen does not crowd a path or fence.

Nursery guides often name Bambusa multiplex types as common clumping screens for warm climates, and Fargesia for cooler ones. Check the label for hardiness and final size, and ask the nursery for plants suited to your area.

Spacing and how fast it fills in

Nursery advice varies by species, but a common pattern is:

• About 3 to 5 feet apart for a dense screen. Larger plants set at the close end can fill in within a year or two, according to some growers.
• Wider spacing, such as 6 to 10 feet, takes longer, often a few more years.
• Planting very close together can speed up cover but may slow individual plants.

Starting with small plants is cheaper, but they can take several years to reach a useful height. Larger, established plants cost more and give faster results. For typical growth rates, see how long it takes bamboo to grow 20 ft.

Site prep and planting

1. Check utilities and structures. In the US, call 811 before digging. Bamboo roots are strong, so keep plants well away from drains and buried pipes. One common guideline is about 1.5 feet from underground structures, and more for running types.
2. Allow a maintenance gap. Leave room between the screen and a fence or wall so you can reach it to prune and check for stray rhizomes.
3. Prepare the soil. Bamboo likes loamy, moist, well-drained soil. Clear weeds and grass and add compost.
4. Dig each hole about twice the width of the root mass, and plant so the top of the roots sits level with the soil.
5. Backfill, water well and mulch with 2 inches or more of organic mulch.

The general planting method is explained further in growing bamboo in your yard.

Care in the first two years

• Water regularly. New bamboo is often watered about twice a week in mild weather and more in heat or wind. Lack of water in the first year is a leading cause of poor results.
• Protect small plants from strong afternoon sun and wind while they settle.
• Feed with a high-nitrogen fertiliser a few months after planting, then a couple of times a year.
• Stake or guy tall plants if wind is a concern.
• Expect it to look thin at first. Each year’s new canes are usually taller and thicker than the last until the plant reaches its mature size.

If you plant a running type

Install a barrier before planting, and plan to check the edge every year. The usual guidance is a rigid, thick HDPE barrier about 30 inches deep with a couple of inches above ground. Our step-by-step rhizome barrier guide covers installation, and how to control and remove bamboo explains what to do if it escapes.

Bamboo fencing panels vs living bamboo

People searching for “bamboo privacy fence” sometimes want a different product: rolled or panelled fencing made from cut, dried canes. That is attached to a frame, posts or an existing fence, usually with ties, wire or screws, and the maker’s instructions should be followed. It gives instant privacy but is not a living plant and will eventually weather. A living screen takes longer, but grows, repairs itself and can be pruned.

Mistakes to avoid

• Planting a running type right on a boundary with no barrier.
• Choosing a species too tender for your zone.
• Expecting maximum listed height in a few years.
• Planting up against a fence with no access gap.
• Letting new plants dry out in their first summer.