When choosing flooring materials, it is important to look for products that are certified by a reputable organization. This will help you to ensure that the products you select are sustainable and environmentally friendly.
In the UK, there are equivalent certification schemes and organizations that focus on sustainable forestry and indoor air quality, similar to the US FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) and GREENGUARD certifications. Here are a few notable ones:
1. PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification)
PEFC is an international forest certification system that promotes sustainable forest management. It provides certification for responsibly managed forests and ensures that wood and wood-based products come from sustainable sources.
2. FSC UK (Forest Stewardship Council UK):
While FSC is an international organization, FSC UK is the branch of FSC that operates in the United Kingdom. FSC certification is widely recognized and ensures that wood products are sourced from well-managed forests.
3. UKWAS (UK Woodland Assurance Standard):
This standard sets out the requirements for forest certification in the UK. It is often used in conjunction with FSC or PEFC certification to ensure responsible forest management.
4. BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method):
BREEAM is a widely used environmental assessment method and certification system for buildings in the UK. It covers various aspects of sustainability, including materials used, and promotes the use of environmentally friendly and responsibly sourced materials.
5. GREENGUARD Equivalent:
While GREENGUARD is a specific indoor air quality certification, similar certifications in the UK include the Blue Angel eco-label and the EU Ecolabel. These labels are awarded to products that meet specific environmental and indoor air quality standards.
It's essential to look for these certifications when selecting sustainable and environmentally friendly products in the UK. Each certification focuses on different aspects of sustainability, so you may choose the one that aligns best with your specific environmental priorities.
True bamboo species are generally not toxic to dogs, although some plants are often misidentified as bamboo but are actually poisonous. Here's what you need to know to keep your dog safe.
What plants are often misidentified as bamboo?
Bamboo is a member of the grass family, and most grasses are considered safe for dogs to eat. In fact, bamboo leaves can provide a source of dietary fiber and, to some extent, protein for dogs.
Two plants that are often confused with bamboo are heavenly bamboo (nandina) and lucky bamboo (dracaena).
Heavenly bamboo contains cyanogenic glycosides, which can release cyanide when ingested, potentially leading to fatal cyanide poisoning.
Lucky bamboo is mildly toxic to dogs and can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and drooling.
How can I keep my dog safe from toxic plants?
Here are some tips for keeping your dog safe from toxic plants:
Identify all the plants in your yard and home, making sure to learn their scientific names, as common names can be misleading.
Research any plants you are unfamiliar with to determine if they are toxic to dogs. Numerous resources are available online and at your local library.
Keep toxic plants securely out of your dog's reach, especially in your yard. You might consider fencing them off to prevent accidental ingestion.
Supervise your dog when they are outdoors. If you observe your dog chewing on a plant, intervene immediately and identify the plant. If you are unsure whether the plant is toxic, contact your veterinarian for guidance.
If you think your dog may have ingested a toxic plant, contact your veterinarian immediately.
Fargesia nitida 'Winter Joy’ is a hybrid plant known by its full name as Fargesia marielae nitida 'Winter Joy’.
It is a stunning new plant that has all the ‘goodies’ from the Fargesia nitida and marielae bamboo plants.
Bamboo ‘Winter Joy' is very decorative due to its dark green steams with red undertones.
In the winter, the light green, small leaves stay on the plant and they are visually appealing even in the winter.
Best qualities of Winter Joy
A beautiful purple sheath and greyish-purply pink tall and upright stems, evergreen dense foliage and non-invasive. Great shade plant.
This clump-forming bamboo has upright culms with beautiful shades of green and grey. Its leaves are evergreen all year round. It can reach 3 – 4m in height and forms clusters 2 – 3m across.
Like most Fargesia marielae nitida, the Bamboo Winter Joy grows well in large pots and containers.
Tolerant to seasonal changes, but prefers a shade to part-shade area; and nutrient-rich soil with good drainage.
Culm: Upright, green and grey, purply pink sheath.
Leaves: Evergreen, fountain-forming foliage.
MatureHeight: 3 – 4 metres.
Spread: Grow out of the base clump 2 – 3 m, does not spread.
Winterhardiness: - 25 degrees Celsius.
Uses: Grow in pots and containers, grows well in shade and part-shade.
Care: Add manure or good organic compost, and avoid planting in windy sites.
Site: Shade to part shade
Bamboo plants similar to Winter Joy
Some bamboo with similar features are Fargesia rufa, Fargesia nitida gansu and Fargesia nitida 'Black Pearl. Check this list for all the Fargesias.
We also featured 7 common types of the Nitida group. A spectacular group of non-invasive bamboo plants, they will not send their roots and shoots away from the parent plant.
The clumps form a dense upright wall to support the ‘fountain’ foliage.
Fargesia nitida is among the stunning Fargesia bamboos in the UK, owing their names to the appearances of the evergreen fountain-like foliage and coloured stems.
Make an exotic bamboo garden
Here are some articles packed with tips and step-by-step guides for bamboo growers.
Varieties of Bambusa textilis 'Gracilis' cultivars
The distinct variations among the Bambusa textilis cultivars make it easy to tell them apart.
First, let’s take a look at the 5 common Bambusa textilis 'Gracilis' cultivars.
Slender Weaver’s Gracilis Bamboo (Bambusa textilis var. gracilis):
This is the common Weavers’ Bamboo in the Bambusa gracilis group. Its desirable slender and clump-forming nature makes it a preferred choice for tall privacy screens and garden hedging.
Emerald Bamboo (Bambusa textilis 'mutabilis'):
A stunning upright bamboo with a spectacular blueish white appearance, quite a rare bamboo.
The name ‘emerald’ is fitting for its light-yellow elongated culms, slim green leaves and graceful foliage.
Bambusa textilis ‘Kanapaha’:
Commonly called Wang Chuk meaning Royal Bamboo. This Timber Bamboo is a giant of the Bambusa textilis group.
It can reach a height of 15 – 20 metres at maturity.
The Weaver's Bamboo Dwarf is a Tropical bamboo variety that requires high humidity, fertile soil, and high moisture and grows well in confined spaces – an ideal indoor dwarf bamboo plant.
Bambusa textilis 'Maculata':
Slender and erect bamboo, very similar to Gracilis. It is an excellent bamboo for small yards and tight spaces.
The culms are slightly further apart at the base, unlike the Slender Weaver’s Bamboo.
How to grow slender Weaver’s bamboo textilis
There are several ways to grow bamboo, it depends on how much time you have and what propagation method suit you.
Here are the three reliable (and quick) ways to grow large clumping bamboos are:
Clump separation or division;
Culm cuttings; or
Nursery bamboo textilis plants.
Firstly, growing the slender Weaver’s Bamboo from clump separation is probably the quickest way to propagate bamboo.
If you have an old bamboo grove, you can take the divisions and plant them straight into the ground.
Secondly, propagation by stem cuttings is another effective way to grow large bamboo such as the Bambusa textiles and Bambusa tuloides varieties.
But, you have to propagate the cuttings in the propagating medium before transplanting them into large pots or into the ground.
And thirdly, buying the Slender Weaver’s bamboo from nursery and growing it is probably the quickest get a new plant.
You do not have to worry about the propagation period.
Qualities and features of slender Weaver’s bamboo plants
The Slender Weaver’s Bamboo, Bambusa textilis, is clump-forming, hardy, evergreen with slender, green to yellow culms and slightly arching stems.
This bamboo produces many canes that are very closely spaced and have dense foliage.
Since the slender Weaver’s Bamboo grows tall, it does not prefer sites where there are strong winds.
Plant it in protected sites or away from the wind.
For example, it will grow very tall if it grows under tall pines or other deciduous trees.
In an ideal case, grow the slender Weaver’s bamboo to block any tall unsightly features next door.
In fact, the thick green leaves, arching evergreen foliage and tall (upright dense) culms make this bamboo the best choice for tall covers.
It is also an ideal bamboo for large pots and containers. One reason why it makes a good container plant is its compact (clumping) nature. It adapts well to confined spaces.
Another reason this bamboo is ideal for pots and containers is that it will *not* grow to its full height when planted in pots, however, it will still give admirable stem colourations, slender culms and evergreen foliage.
Also, if you want to grow a Bambusa textilis in pots and containers, the best option is Bambusa textilis ‘RG Dwarf’ (the Weaver's Bamboo Dwarf) or Buddah's Belly Bamboo(Bambusa tuldoides Ventricosa).
How to care for your slender Weaver’s bamboo?
Although the slender Weaver’s bamboo plants are tolerant to pests and variable soil conditions, there is a number of natural threats growers should be mindful of, such as slugs’ attacks and wind.
Slugs' attack on bamboo plants is a common occurrence, they adore the new shoots and leaves.
Protect the new growth, especially in Spring and Summer when the new growths are prominent, by applying Slug and Snail Killer.
Ominously, the Weaver’s Bamboo is tall. Its new culms will have several internodes before putting out branches and leaves, therefore, the culms are susceptible to wind.
Stake the new culms to protect them from swaying and breaking.
General care for bamboo plants
Generally, the running- and clump-forming bamboos love moist soil but do not like too much water.
The newly planted bamboo plants will thrive in well-aerated loam, or sand and loose clay soil. So, make sure that the soil remains well-drained and aerated.
In addition, the older plants will require fertiliser and mulch, at least, once in Spring.
Check to see if they are putting out new shoots, or whether the leaves and soil are in good condition.
For healthy bamboo plants, do these:
Apply Slug and Snail Killer around your new bamboo.
Add organic mulch.
Tie the culms to bamboo sticks/stakes.
Add NPK fertilizers.
Trim old culms to promote new growths.
The Slender Weaver’s Bamboo textilis is a formidable plant for garden hedging and privacy screens.
