by George Collins » Sun Jan 04, 2015 5:32 pm
Geoff Lawton has a really good primer on using bamboo in a permaculture design at his website
I have some of the clumping type I will be setting out in the few days. I'd love to aggressively plant several varieties and I would but for one thing - kudzu. That seen mess taught those of us living in the South to be exceptionally careful with the introduction of potentially invasive species.
We have other exceedingly noxious invasives that give us fits, such as trifoliate orange, but even they are mere menaces compared to the monster that is kudzu.
Wisteria is another invasive that I've had particular difficulty with. Without some sort of animal control (not always possible), the chances of eradicating such things seems daunting at best. Prior to learning about permaculture/organic gardening/etc., I lived in a house of a partially wooded three-acre lot where wisteria had escaped. I tried every strategy I could think of, both fair and foul, and if I ever made a dent in that stuff I couldn't tell it.
My advice to anyone thinking about utilizing a potentially invasive plant is this:
1. Think of your neighbors first
2. Proceed only if you KNOW you can keep it contained.
If you want to know the power of invasives, research kudzu. It is only half jokingly referred to as, "The weed that ate the South."
"Solve world hunger, tell no one." "The, the, the . . . The Grinch!"
"If you can't beat them, bite them."