Bamboo for Gardens [Illustrated] [Hardcover]

Ted Jordan Meredith (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 20, 2001

Bamboos evoke an exotic atmosphere wherever they are used — unfortunately, they are too often kept out of our gardens for fear of their invasive qualities or lack of hardiness. In truth, these elegant grasses, encompassing both woody and herbaceous forms, can achieve dramatic yet restrained effects in a range of climates. Their uses include both the ornamental, offering striking foliage and culms, and the practical, such as for screening or erosion control, not to mention the culinary treat of bamboo shoots and the structural qualities of the culm wood. Tropical and subtropical bamboos present many possibilities for landscapes in warmer climates, while the hardier species can be grown as far north as Minnesota in the United States and in the cooler climes of England and continental Europe. Bamboo culture has a long and distinguished legacy in East Asia, but much remains to be explored by Western gardeners and landscapers.

Bamboo expert Ted Jordan Meredith provides a thorough and multifaceted treatment of these ancient grasses, covering origins and history, structure and form, cultivation and propagation, landscaping, and taxonomy and identification. He offers insight into selecting the right plant for the right situation, and presents useful advice on the best methods for containing or eradicating potentially invasive forms. The bulk of the book is an encyclopedia of bamboo genera, species, and cultivars. More than 300 bamboos from 40 different genera are described in detail, including information on size, lighting and temperature requirements, native range, physical characteristics, and landscape and other uses. Meredith's excellent color photos and clear line drawings effectively illustrate both the details and broader effects of these exquisite plants.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

A resurgence of interest in bamboos calls for an expert to help gardeners select appropriate plants for a given setting. Meredith's approach perfectly suits this objective, with engaging personal experience illuminating comprehensive coverage of the subject at hand. The book's attractive format opens the door to the usefulness and beauty of bamboos, presenting a vast range of possibilities to enhance a garden or landscape. And although avid plant lovers have generally overcome a fear of the invasiveness associated with these plants, Meredith addresses the issue with a chapter pointing out landscaping options and maintenance requirements. He also lists bamboos for special situations, so readers can glean which plants might be used to create an evergreen privacy screen, lush grove, or other design ideas that might translate to a private garden. Concluding with an encyclopedic reference that provides particulars on form, color, cultural requirements, and the habits of each species, Meredith's fine resource offers clarity and enlightenment to new and experienced gardeners alike. Alice Joyce
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

"From ground covers to timber types, Ted Jordan Meredith, author of Bamboo for Gardens, knows his subject."—Oregonian, July 31, 2002 (Oregonian )

"Really want to know about bamboo? This is the book to get."—John Van de Water, Newark Star-Ledger, April 7, 2002 (John Van de Water Newark Star-Ledger )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 408 pages
• Publisher: Timber Press (September 20, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0881925071
• ISBN-13: 978-0881925074
• Product Dimensions: 10.5 x 7.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #136,076 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #20 in Books > Education & Reference > Encyclopedias > Gardening

More About the Author

Ted Jordan Meredith has written books on viticulture, enology, wine appreciation, garlic, and bamboo. His "Bamboo for Gardens" (Timber Press 2001) was awarded the Council on Botanical and Horticultural Libraries Literature Award and The New York Times Editor's Choice for Best Books for Gardening, and his "The Complete Book of Garlic: A Guide for Gardeners, Growers, and Serious Cooks" (Timber Press 2008) has become the standard reference for garlic enthusiasts. His newest book, "Timber Press Pocket Guide to Bamboos" is a Timber Press best seller.

When a housing development suddenly took away his privacy, Ted became interested in bamboo as a beautiful, rapidly growing, evergreen screen. He quickly became captivated by bamboo in all of its aspects and began to grow, research, and write about bamboo, a diverse plant of some 1400 species that grows in a range from the tropics to above the arctic circle.

A native of Montana, Ted recalls the daring use of fresh garlic in the family kitchen. In later years, as his interest in cooking grew, Ted enthusiastically incorporated garlic into much of his cuisine but initially regarded garlic as a supermarket commodity with little distinction. It was at a farmer's market that he purchased a few heads of a Rocambole garlic, 'Spanish Roja'. Ted realized then that all garlic was not the same, and he never looked back, voraciously exploring a new-found world of hundreds of cultivars in nearly a dozen different horticultural groups.

With his focus on bamboo and garlic, Ted seems to specialize in highly beneficial plants that also carry something of a social stigma. A plant of great beauty, bamboo also plays a major role in landscaping, privacy screens, and the green sustainability movement, but it has a reputation for running where you do not want it. In his bamboo books, Ted shows that once you understand bamboo's growth habits, simple methods will keep it where you want it. Garlic is integral to most of the world's great cuisines and garlic offers a broad spectrum of health benefits, but it can also generate strong and distinctive breath, particularly noticeable by those who do not consume garlic. For this Ted offers the helpful advice that is a mantra among garlic enthusiasts: "If your friends object to your garlic breath, get new friends."

Ted and his wife garden and grow bamboo at their home in Washington state. In addition to writing and photography, Ted enjoys cooking, gardening, hiking, and music.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

60 of 60 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't be afraid of planting bamboo!, December 30, 2001

By 

A. J. Williams "Oregonbamboo" (Beaverton, Oregon USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bamboo for Gardens (Hardcover)

Straight forward practical advice on how to choose the right bamboo for your garden. Sections on choosing either running or clumping bamboo and the differences, site selection, soil requirements, winter protection, maintenance, controlling the spread of bamboo and a gardeners special needs list (cold hardy bamboo, tall hedge, ground covers etc.) are perfect for the beginner grower and a great cross reference for the expert. The book has many beautiful images of bamboo included throughout as well. Ted also does an excellent job explaining the historical and cultural aspects of bamboo. All of your fears about planting bamboo should be relieved after reading this book. Happy gardening!

36 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bamboo for Gardens, December 3, 2001

By 

Nancy Bess (Amherst, MA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bamboo for Gardens (Hardcover)

Attracted to the look of bamboo but nervous about planting it in your yard? Then buy this book! It tells you everything you need to know and will convert you to the beauty and mystery of bamboo forever.

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Bible of Bamboo Cultivation, October 23, 2006

By 

Cheri Montagu "Writer" (San Francisco Bay Area, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bamboo for Gardens (Hardcover)

I am a bamboo grower and member of the Northern California Chapter of the American Bamboo Society. I have praised Meredith's book in two articles for the ABS magazine BAMBOO so I might as well do so here. It is really the bible of bamboo cultivation, answering every question-- well just about! As every bamboo grower knows, problems often arise for which one is unprepared-- for instance this season I found slugs living inside my bamboos and eating them from within! But Ted is available to respond to such questions, although he may not thank me for saying so here-- try contacting him first through his publisher. One thing I really like about him is that he is not, in contrast to some bamboo growers who think they know one's own environment better than one knows it oneself, dogmatic. He is very open-minded and thoughtful, listening carefully to what one says and responding in a balanced fashion. However, I must say that his book is not exactly a good guide to the first-time bamboo grower. There are so many facts that one tends to read it and then forget them until one runs into problems later. It is best kept as a reference book, although I highly recommend looking through his discussion of the various species before one decides to buy a bamboo. This is a book for serious bamboo growers, not people who think of bamboo as a mere hedge around their yard, but those who seek a gorgeous centerpiece to their garden which may eventually grow to be seventy feet tall with stalks which are several inches in diameter.