Bamboo question

Hi all, new to gardening and this is my first post.

Was wondering if someone could answer a few small questions i have.

My friend has just given me some bamboo from his garden and i have put it in mine as a screen. The problem is it is about 11-12 foot tall.

It has very little leaves on the first 6-7 foot and all the leaves are on the top 5 or so foot. The leaves are very green, about 6" long by 1-2 " in width.

Q- What kind is it ?
Q- Can i cut it down to 6-7 foot?
Q- if i do cut it, will leaves come back or will i be left with sticks?

All advise welcome as i have no idea what am doing.

 

Will try and get pics on soon, not very good at that sort of thing !!!

There was a clump of about 6 foot in diameter at friends garden, so i,m guessing it clump forming as it was all very tightly packed together, no straying bits here and there and he says he has never touched it for years just leaving it to grow.

 

Is it like this one? The size you give of the leaves makes it a possibility
http://www.fujiyamagarden.com/pseudosasa.jpg

 

Yes very similar, but mostly cane for first 6 foot until it goes like that, the leaves are a big bigger, but i think this stuff has been in friends garden for many many years !!! i hoping i can cut it down, what do you think. If i did how long would it take leaves to start coming from the bits i cut down ? :ntwrth:

 

If you cut it down you will depend on new growth from the root ....
Bamboo will not grow thicker than the thickness of the new shoot, and I don't think you will get any growth of leaves from an existing shoot if you cut it back
Why do you want to cut it down? Normally bamboo looks better with a length of cane bare of leaf.....

 

Need to cut it down as its against a six foot fence acting as more of a screen and it towers over the fence a good 4-5 feet. Neighbours not said much so far but might do soon after as i think it will effect there sun in summer, if we ever get one !!!!

 

Do a test if at all possible, cut a few really leggy stems down/out, or a small patch from one side and leave it for a few weeks, see if anything regrows.

Gardening sometimes is about trial and error, sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't. You have just got to be strong and take the plunge sometimes!lol I'm sure that there are many people on here that have been uncertain of what to do, and just had a go!

If you do decide to 'have a go', can you let us know how you get on! Its exciting when things turn out for the best.

Hope this Helps!

 

Be reassured .... if you cut it down it WILL re grow