Pool friendly trees

nick1427d · Posted: May 17th, 2011, 7:51 pm

esim13 wrote:

I'm not an expert but I an avid planter and gardener. I have always been told that bamboo will not spread if it is contained within it's container. If planted in the ground it will spread like crazy. My neighbor has bamboo in two huge pots. I'm talking 4 ft tall by atleast 30in diameter. I have yet to see them spread out of the pots. I'm thinking that maybe the planters you have could contain the bamboo. When they tried them in the front of the property were they contained in a planter of some kind or just planted in the ground? May be something to ask garden center. I was also thinking that you may be able to just get bamboo poles of varying heights and widths to stand in the planters with mulch or rocks around them??? Just a few thoughts....... good luck!

This is true, Unless the planters are on the ground (dirt) and the roots can spread through the drainage holes of planters, the bamboo will have no where to go. There are some "southern magnolias" that are evergreen but like somebody said earlier they will drop their flowers and at some point will lose leaves. Some of these magnolias are suitable for containers. Nice thing about magnolias is their leaves are large and thick enough to easily be scooped up.

waste · Posted: May 18th, 2011, 3:13 pm

Thank you! :bowdown:

I thought that contained in the planters, the bamboo couldn't spread. And, yes, the bamboo down front wasn't contained.

Theses planters are wooden boxes on the pool deck, so there won't be any spreading by roots. I was only worried about it 'going to seed', like grass and spreading that way.

Again, thanks to all who have responded to this thread :goodjob:

acroy · Posted: May 18th, 2011, 3:27 pm

I know in the initial post you said No to palms - but consider the Windmill cold-hardy palm, as others have mentioned. They are tough. A little spendy up front, maintenance is minor (trim only the dead fronds) and they look beautiful. You sure will get the tropical look you're after.

Mine survived a week of freezing with no issue, down to 7F this winter. I know ya northerners will laugh at that, but for us, that's serious weather

Suziqzer · **Joined:** September 21st, 2009, 12:40 pm **Posts:** 429

If you don't go with the bamboo, there are so many varieties of grasses these days that look beautiful swaying in the breeze. You could get varying heights and sizes that way, or go all the same.

NWMNMom · Posted: May 25th, 2011, 12:48 pm

Yucca. Looks tropical, non shedding, winter hardy check the Intl Peace Garden in ND, can get huge, blooms infrequently but when it does it looks really cool, low to no maintenance.

anonapersona · **Joined:** November 5th, 2008, 7:13 am **Posts:** 1919

The suggestion of temporary tropicals is a good one. You may be able to use a sturdy evergreen grass in the front, then the tropicals in the middle or rear, depending on the size of the planter. Here in Texas I'd use 4 x 1 gallon giant liriope (mature size 30") or some similar grass surrounding cannas (medium or tall variety, fancy leaves are better) in the middle, and tuck caladium bulbs in between the liriope. Bulbs would be removed each fall for storage. Care may require soap based spray for leaf rolling bugs and trimming the spent stalks of cannas after blooming.

Texan78 · Posted: June 1st, 2011, 10:38 pm

accidental chemist wrote:

"Windmill Fan Palm" It has a hairy trunk. I have seen them growing on the Normandy Coast of France. Check the map, it gets a little nippy there in the winters.

I was going to suggest the Windmill Fan Palm as well if you really wanted to go the Palm tree route. They really are cold hardy, I have some and even though I am in Texas we do have some nasty winters. Super Bowl displayed that. All you have to do is wrap the trunk in burlap once it gets to freezing and they will be fine.

Malibu07 · Posted: June 13th, 2011, 10:09 am

accidental chemist wrote:

"Windmill Fan Palm" It has a hairy trunk. I have seen them growing on the Normandy Coast of France. Check the map, it gets a little nippy there in the winters.

Yep, plant some Windmill Palm Trees. They are originally from the mountains in China so they are winter hardy. If you check online you can find some good deals.
I just planted two young palms by my pool. I have many neighbors in our area who have them and they are gorgeous.

waste · Posted: June 13th, 2011, 5:52 pm

Thanks again for all the input/ suggestions :cheers:

Last I heard, they've ignored my proposals and offers to help and may have decided on LILACS??>?!!!???>? :hammer:

(not only am I allergic to lilacs, but it surely isn't 'tropical' ) :rant:

Pool friendly trees

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