Gardening : Grasses : Putting Bamboo to Work : Home & Garden Television

There are an infinite number of functions for cut bamboo in the garden. Whether you harvest your own bamboo or buy already cut cane, the possibilities are endless.

If not from your own garden, bamboo canes of various sizes are available from catalogs, online sources, nurseries and hardware stores. "Perhaps the most useful form of cut bamboo, are the canes that are roughly 6 feet long with diameters of ½" to ¾"," says master gardener Paul James. These long canes can be used whole or cut into sections to make gardening devices like this tepee (figure A) for growing different vine-growing plants. Bamboo stakes are also great for staking plants (figure B) or for training the branches of small trees (figure C).

Figure B

Figure C

Figure D

James made this bamboo bed border (figure D) from larger diameter sections of bamboo cut at different lengths.

Conventional American saws have a history of splintering the bamboo cane. James recommends using a hack saw or specially-made bamboo saws like this one (figure E). Another tool designed for bamboo is this rubber ball with holes through it (figure F).

Figure E

Figure F

Figure G

Figure H

Figure I

Figure J

Figure K

This handy little device allows you to construct bamboo structures quickly and easily without using string or twine like this cage to keep hungry critters away from plants (figure G).

"With a little practice, you can learn to make all kinds of things out of bamboo for your garden, including fences and gates but also water fountains, planter boxes, the list goes on and on," James says.

This accordion bamboo trellis goes from 1' to 11' and can be used horizontally or vertically (figure H). "Here, for example is the classic bamboo rake which is still one of the best rakes made (figure I)."

Bamboo wind chimes (figure J) not only feature a naturally beautiful look, they also create a pleasant, calming sound.

"And last but hardly least, here's my favorite bamboo item of all," James says. "It's a beverage holder with cups (figure K). In Japan, it's traditionally used for sake or rice wine. But around here, after a long day of gardening I like to fill a cup with my favorite cup of green tea."

Also in this Episode

Gardening by the Yard : Episode GBY-716
•	Clumping Bamboo
•	Bamboo Barriers
•	Putting Bamboo to Work
•	Getting Rid of Bamboo

Gardening

Putting Bamboo to Work

Tools

MOST POPULAR

Gardening

Putting Bamboo to Work

Tools

MOST POPULAR

Home and Garden Ideas from our sponsors