Product Description

David Crompton explains the characteristics that set bamboos apart and everything that is needed to grow them successfully. The various uses of bamboos are considered, including the creation of a garden devoted exclusively to bamboos, followed by advice on preparing the site and soil, establishing and maintaining plants, moving them, propagating them, combining them with companion plants, and dealing with any problems that may arise. The core of the book is a gardener's guide to nearly 200 ornamental bamboos to grow and enjoy, supplemented by lists of bamboos for specific purposes.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #283488 in Books
• Published on: 2006-08-01
• Format: Illustrated
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 306 pages

From Booklist
Bamboo remains a plant of mystery even to savvy gardeners, despite its versatility in garden design. Holder of the United Kingdom's National Collection of Bamboos, Crompton is self-taught nevertheless, and his accessible style illuminates decorative uses of bamboo in large and lilliputian gardens alike. Crompton paints fascinating portraits of these ancient plants, their growth patterns, and botanical characteristics. Along with plenty of practical advice, Crompton presents ornamental examples of bamboos in various settings ranging from lush ground-covering species that can serve as screening that rustles in the wind to stunning cultivars begging to be sited as choice specimens. A listing of highly readable descriptions covers temperate bamboos currently cultivated in Western gardens. Gardeners will learn about invasive and spreading types and be able to identify clump-formers with colorful culms. A final list recommends bamboos for site-specific purposes such as seaside or windswept gardens. Beautiful photography enhances Crompton's informative compendium. Alice Joyce
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Review
"Crompton paints fascinating portraits of these ancient plants, their growth patterns, and botanical characterisitics...Beautiful photography enhances Crompton's informative compendium." -- Booklist, October 2006

"Crompton paints fascinating portraits of these ancient plants, their growth patterns, and botanical characteristics. Along with plenty of practical advice, Crompton presents ornamental examples of bamboos in various settings ranging from lush ground-covering species that can serve as screening that rustles in the wind to stunning cultivars, begging to be sited as choice specimens. ... Beautiful photography enhances Crompton's informative compendium."
—Alice Joyce, Booklist, October 2006 (Booklist )

Crompton paints fascinating portraits of these ancient plants, their growth patterns, and botanical characteristics. Along with plenty of practical advice, Crompton presents ornamental examples of bamboos in various settings ranging from lush ground-covering species that can serve as screening that rustles in the wind to stunning cultivars, begging to be sited as choice specimens. ... Beautiful photography enhances Crompton's informative compendium. Alice Joyce, Booklist, October 2006 (Booklist )

Review
“I would recommend this book for those who have thought about planting bamboo because they like the exotic look, but have been put off by the invasive reputation of the plant. The book gives so many alternatives and is a good read as well.” (Taffy Turner Washington Gardener )

Customer Reviews

Good book
I bought this book primarily for the photos to aid in the identification of bamboo that I have and in that respect it does not disappoint. The pictures are sharp and well framed. The author avoids being overly technical about the growth habits of bamboo and offers good advice about choosing the various types of bamboo for differing garden situations. I would recommend this book to anyone new to bamboo in need of some guidance.

Ornamental Bamboos
Excellent in all respects. Well written for the beginner or advanced bamboo enthusiast, excellent photos, simply a super reference book on the subject.