[Greenbuilding] [BULK] Re: Plybooboo

[Lawrence Lile]

Nonnative bamboo is a concern, however in several instances I have
observed, it does not spread uncontrollably in practice.  

My neighbor grows bamboo in his yard, has quite a stand of it in fact,
and it spreads by roots.  Anyone who mows their lawn in the vicinity
keeps it totally in check, same with the road on the other side of his
property.  I've let some spread into my yard just because I think it is
a cool plant.  

Another planting by a friend of mine transplanted some "cane" from
Tennessee to a plot in Central Missouri.  He planted it in a small
bottomland clearing surrounded by forest.  So far it hasn't spread into
the woods, seems to require full sun.  

A third site, also in a backyard, is also easily contained by
surrounding mowed areas.  

An area I observed planted at the Tennessee Farm near Summertown, also
seemed to be completely contained by minimal mowing.  


Bamboo does spread by roots, at a rate of a few feet per year, but it is
nothing like the dreaded Kudzu, Multifora rose or other famous nonnative
disasters.  While I try to focus more on native plants these days, I
don't think nonnative bamboo is a huge concern, and it is a fantastic
building material.

Despite my teasing my friend about planting the new "kudzu of the
North", none of these bamboo plantings seem to be spreading and are
easily controlled.  Your Mileage May Vary.  
 
 
Lawrence Lile, P.E., LEED AP

-----Original Message-----
From: greenbuilding-bounces at listserv.repp.org
[mailto:greenbuilding-bounces at listserv.repp.org] On Behalf Of David
Bergman
Sent: Thursday, February 08, 2007 10:58 AM
To: YankeePerm at aol.com; GREENBUILDING at listserv.repp.org
Subject: [BULK] Re: [Greenbuilding] Plybooboo
Importance: Low

At 09:35 AM 2/8/2007, YankeePerm at aol.com wrote:
>There is plenty of
>bamboo growing in the USA and the plantations would expand if there 
>were a large
>market such as an US-based plyboo factory.

Are there issues with Bamboo being a non-indigenous plant and 
threatening existing eco systems? I'd thought that, because it is 
essentially rapidly growing weed, it is hard to control and can 
potentially spread beyond farms and overtake systems.


David
DAVID BERGMAN ARCHITECT / FIRE & WATER LIGHTING + FURNITURE
architecture . interiors . ecodesign . lighting . furniture
bergman at cyberg.com    www.cyberg.com
241 Eldridge Street #3R, New York, NY 10002
t 212 475 3106    f 212 677 7291  
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