I've tagged this as an idea I would like to implement in a spot between our front porch and our neighbors back porch. (I keep hoping they will fence their backyard so I don't have to petition to fence my front yard!)

Basically, 4x4's stained, sunk in ground with wire (in this yuppy case copper wire) strung between eye hooks. Depending on the type vine, turnbuckles might be needed.

I thought it was a pretty brilliant idea. I guess if you really wanted to make it portable, you could sink the 4x4's in a bucket with some concrete. Then if you needed to you could move the bucket.

Oh, and fishtail fern growing in pots can quickly fill an area.

~dianne

Thanks for the idea. So, I am not the only one with this problems.

So far my top ideas are tall ornamental grass....

Half way down this post is my favorite ornamental grass ;-)

Tom

Bamboo scares me. I like the look of it and the clackety noise it makes in the wind, but it scares me. I'm afraid wouldn't be able to control it.

I'm afraid wouldn't be able to control it.

It's illegal to sell running bamboo now, has been for many years. You can only buy clumping bamboo, which is very easy to control. If its growing in a direction you don't want it to go then kick the new corms as they come up and once you've broken it that stalk is history....

Tom

Good tip Tom. That doesn't sound too hard.

Tom,

Where did you hear it is illegal to sell running bamboo? I assure you that is in no way true.

There is nothing wrong with runners but like mean dogs it is best to keep them under control. As you very correctly pointed out clumping bamboo stays right where you plant it and is very well behaved. They make some that get tall and others that stay short.

This gives an idea of what to avoid which is a good place to start for any plan.
From a link on the Selby Gardens website:

"Can planting ever be a bad thing? Yes, if you choose the wrong plant. Silent invasion is not the only way troublesome plants can get established on your property. Many arrive as pretty plants in pots, introduced willingly by eager gardeners who plant them only to later realize the monster they have released. Plants listed in FLEPPC's Category I are illegal to sell, so you shouldn't see them available at nurseries. But think about how these plants came to Florida - brought in by humans, most as ornamentals. Consider the story of the noxious weed carrotwood (Cupaniopsis anacardioides). This sturdy, handsome tree from Asia became very popular in the landscape after it was introduced into Sarasota, FL in the late 1960's. The lesson is this: today's ornamentals can become tomorrow's pests. Botanical gardens that cultivate exotic plants such as Selby Gardens are very mindful of this potential, and scrutinize their collections closely for weedy tendencies. Note plants that produce copious amounts of fruits or seeds. Be concerned about species with a rambunctious habit. If you can't contain them, remove them! Here are some punk plants to avoid when selecting plants for your landscape:

Produce many seeds

Overgrow other plants

Difficult to erradicate

cardboard palm (Zamia furfuracea)

clock vine (Thunbergia grandiflora)

arrowhead vine (Syngonium podophyllum)

coral creeper (Barleria repens)

coral vine (Antigonon leptopus)

asparagus fern (Asparagus densiflorus)

Indian rosewood (Dalbergia sissoo)

Egyptian papyrus (Cyperus papyrus)

Clerodendrum spp.

Jatropha spp.

Indian rubbervine (Cryptostegia madagascariensis)

creeping daisy (Wedelia trilobata)

orange jessamine (Murraya paniculata)

Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica)

false shamrock (Oxalis regnellii)

orchid tree (Bauhinia variegata)

jasmine (Jasminum spp.)

Ganges primrose (Asystasia gangetica)

oyster plant (Rhoeo spathacea)

mahoe (Hibiscus tiliaceus)

pothos (Epipremnum aureum)

Philippine violet (Barleria cristata)

passion flower (Passiflora spp.)

running bamboo (Phyllostachys spp.)

Solanum spp.

Rangoon creeper (Quisqualis indica)

snake plant (Sansevieria trifasciata)

umbrella tree (Schefflera actinophylla)

wandering Jew (Tradescantia zebrina)

sword fern (Nephrolepis cordifolia)

wild petunia (Ruellia brittoniana)

wild taro (Colocasia esculenta)"

Here is a link that might be useful: Marie Selby Botanical Gardens

Where did you hear it is illegal to sell running bamboo? I assure you that is in no way true.

I thought that came from Roy, but from what you say I must be wrong....

I didn't want to spoil the joke... thought Tom was working on a setup. It was an April Fool's Day prank from 2007. Your timing is spot-on! Hehehe!

See link below.

Carol

Here is a link that might be useful: Bamboo Cultivation in U.S. ILLEGAL by 2008

Tom,

There is lots of misinformation out there. Gatormom2x posted "Plants listed in FLEPPC's Category I are illegal to sell" which is simply not true at all. If you look at the Category 1 list ONLY those listed with a P designation are illegal to sell. No bamboo is listed as a P.....just things like Brazilian peppers, Australian pines, hydrilla things like that.

Got it BR, are nurseries still selling the running stuff?

Department of Homelad Security chief Michael Chertoff, added, "Privacy in America is a quaint, outdated concept. That's why we support this legislation. The abolition of bamboo screening in the yards of America will make it much easier for people to see what their neighbors are up to. The passage of this law is one small victory in the larger war against terror."

Too funny Carol ;-)

Tom

Tom and Carol...I agree...too funny! Some people are so creative (and funny!) At least no one can take away your sense of humor!

Tom,

Yes they are still selling the runners. Here are links to a couple vendors I have bought from. The first one, Johnson's also sell day lilies and sell 100's of forms, they are not my thing but they are gorgeous. They are about 20 miles from me in Brooksville and Jeff and Linda are great people.
http://www.johnsondaylily.com/bamboo/contactus.html

This one I have bought from but only once.

http://www.beautifulbamboo.com/runningbamboo.php

Both of the above sell many types of runners. Roy does not sell runners but he does not have room to grow them anyway.

After rereading my posts it sounded like I was blaming Gatormom2x and that was not my intent instead I was blaming the source she honestly relied on for information.