Question
QUESTION: we have a small yard and are looking for privacy, greenery and all on almost NO budget. we have a 6' cyclone fence with white slats, we are looking for privacy OVER the fence. especially along the back fence, behind an 18' long pool. the rear neighbors have 2 sheds against our fence. what can we do, that will disguise that sore sight and add greenery, color and privacy. i was thinking of bamboo in containers, so that they grow up. not sure, not easy with not much money. any suggestions? we are in long island, ny.

ANSWER: With no budget, bamboo is a good choice.  You can also try arborvitae.

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QUESTION: thank you for your response. can i grow bamboo in a container? will it break through? where do i buy bamboo? home depot, lowes. etc? they will last through the winter? is there any maintence i need to do? how fast do they grow?

Answer
Yes, you can grow bamboo in large containers.  You can actually use garbage cans - cheap and big enough and you can get in plain green or black.  It will grow quickly and you can find at a decent nursery - home improvement stores will not usually have it.  Ask them for the largest, fastest growing variety they have.