I have about 2 dozen clumps of Bambusa Lako that screen out the neighbours and are around 40-50ft tall. At this time of year a new shoot grows about 20-30cm a d

I have about 2 dozen clumps of Bambusa Lako that screen out the neighbours and are around 40-50ft tall. At this time of year a new shoot grows about 20-30cm a day. But while they grow quickly, being mostly hollow they are a fraction of the weight of a similar length tree branch. You can pick one up easily. Leaves however are a different story - they drop an enormous amount of leaves! The leaves don't compost easily like grass and are terrible to burn. They do make a good mulch similar to sugar cane otherwise you're filling a bin every week with leaves! If it doesn't rain for a few months the leaves all yellow and they start to die off like grass, but they don't need that much water.