I inherited a plantation of bamboo at the end of my swimming pool which is effective in screening an unattractive concrete and metal wall. One downside is that it requires a lot of water to keep it looking good - which it doesn't receive !! More significantly, I had always thought that the previous owners of the house had contained the bamboo in a proper trench. However, the bamboo has recently escaped into the municiplal garden behind so I am now less confident about how it is contained and potential damage to the pool. My awareness of the danger of bamboo is heightened as I am discussing with the Mairie the folly of them planting 25 Bamboo Phyllostachys nigra - without any form of trench - on the other side of my garden wall !!
If I replaced my bamboo - (the width of the platning trench is about 3 1/3 metres by 50 cm) I thought perhaps 5 cypress trees would form a good screen and if I kept them to a height of about 2 1/2 metres I would be able to prune them myself. I am not sure what depth of soil there is in the current 'trench' until I start escavating the bamboo. Does any one have recommendations for a particular variety of cypress - ie reasonably compact, good dark colour. Cypress occurred to me as they are classic to the area and if trimmed would suit the more formal style of the pool terrace and wouldn't drop too much debris int he water !! I am open to suggestions for other planting for the areas too.
Cheers, Duncan