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Ground covers serve a variety of purposes. They can help retain moisture in the soil, they prevent erosion, and provide an eye-catching sight year round. Of all ground covers, there is one very much appreciated: bamboo. This is a very hardy plant, which can grow quite high and which will cover great extensions of land fairly quickly. For this reason, it can also be very difficult to contain. If you are looking for a good bamboo ground cover, please read on.
Ground cover plants are those which have a maximum height of 2 feet. In the case of bamboo ground cover, that height turns into 10 feet. There are certain dwarf species of bamboo that are considered good ground covers, both for their hardiness and quick growth. There are many varieties to choose from, which differ in the size of their leaves, their color and density of foliage. However, there is one thing they all have in common: their quick growth and attractiveness.
In order to successfully plant your bamboo ground cover, there are a few things you should bear in mind. Firs of all, think of the place where you are going to plant them. Bamboos will tolerate a variety of planting situations, which range from the full sun to partial shade, though they will achieve better growth when planted in a sunny spot. In the second place, you need to take watering into account. Bamboos in general need plenty of water, but newly planted bamboo plants need even more. You must make sure you can water your bamboo ground cover at least three times a week, maybe more often if the weather is too hot, until your plants are well-established. If they do not receive adequate amounts of water, their growth will be stunted and you will likely feel disappointed. In the third place, there is fertilizing. Bamboos do not need much fertilizing when they are well established, but you can boost growth by adding to the soil a good organic fertilizer, either before planting or later on.
The fourth aspect of using a bamboo ground cover, and one which many gardeners are concerned with, is spread. Bamboo can spread quickly and take over all the space available if not contained. If you want to keep the bamboo growing within a specific location, you might need to make use of a barrier which the bamboo plants will not be able to pass. You can contain bamboo to a specific spot either by placing such a barrier (which will be covered by the soil, and thus, unseen) or by digging out a trench deep enough so that the roots of the plant, which are quite superficial, cannot get to the other side. The second option will be visible, however, and could ruin your landscaping efforts.
Bamboo ground cover is an extremely attractive, evergreen option for covering large areas quickly. It has some disadvantages, however, and every aspect should be taken into consideration before deciding to use this type of ground cover in your garden.
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Author Bio Box: Patricia Wainwright
Get all the facts about gardening for beginners and organic gardening at GreenThumbArticles.com!
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