Bamboo Good News / Bad News Newsletter

Bamboo’s Good News / Bad News

Bamboo is the fastest growing plant in the world and being a grass is annually renewable. Some species can grow as much as four feet a day! Bamboo produces more oxygen than any other plant and consumes more carbon dioxide. Bamboo plants are very effective at removing metals and other toxic substances from soils and water. Bamboo is stronger than steel and more than 1 billion people worldwide live in houses made of bamboo. Bamboo canes are used as stakes for new plants and climbing vines in vegetable gardens and landscaping. Bamboo is definitely one of the most useful plants grown in the world. It is also used as food, animal fodder, fencing and screening.

But, it can be one of the most invasive plants in the world and gardeners are hesitant to grow it. True, that if you plant running bamboo, you need to have underground barriers to prevent running or a regular management program to control it (click here for more information on Bamboo and Bamboo Control Newsletter). Even easier – just plant the beautiful clumping varieties like those covered on this site: Hardy Clumping Bamboo