How bamboo grows and spreads.

Standard plant sizes and supplies.

Planting -->

Installation, Containment and Care.

This book gives practical selection and planting help.

Installation and Care

The Planting Site

While bamboo will grow in most soils it is important to remember it is not a pond plant or a desert plant. It likes water on a regular basis, particularly in summer. Bamboo likes to grow at the edge of a pond, stream or swampy area but not in it. Irrigation is necessary in the west where summers are dry, clear and hot. In the east where summer rains are a regular occurrence irrigation is not necessary except for newly planted bamboo or under drought conditions. The soil range can be from sandy to clay. In sandy/loamy soils, however, watering and feeding will need to be more frequent. Bamboo Giant Bamboo Soil mix has been especially formulated to provide optimum conditions for maximum growth. A heavy mulch of wood chips encourages rhizome growth and maintains even moisture levels. Soil pH is recommended at between 5.5 and 6.5 or slightly acid for most species. Avoid using lime on bamboo. Generally, species that tolerate drier conditions may do better in higher pH soils. Bamboo are not salt tolerant so plant 100 yards from the ocean. Some varieties such as Temple and Arrow are more salt tolerant and better for ocean front.. Typical spacing is as follows. Space dwarf bamboos 18" apart, medium and tall sizes 3' apart for hedges and 5Õ apart for a grove.

Spreading or Clumping Bamboo

Many gardeners are frightened by the running bamboo species which send out rhizomes that may travel for several feet. These are the culprits of bambooÕs bad reputation among western gardeners. Fortunately, running bamboo can be contained. Clumping bamboo has a different type of rhizome growth that results in the rhizome being very short and, sometimes, almost bulbous. The bamboo that grow only inches away from the center of the plant with densely clustered culms are called clumping bamboo. In basic terms, the spreading or running bamboo are found in the more temperate climates. The clumping bamboo is of more tropical origin. The open grove spreading bamboo is what you may see in photographs of people walking through a forest of bamboo. Clumping bamboo forms tight thickets of canes that are impossible to walk into without cutting your way through first. Most are not very attractive. These are the well behaved bamboo that stay put when planted. The spreading bamboo will easily form an attractive grove. The best way to enjoy spreading bamboo in the garden is in pots above ground or in a designated area with the bamboo contained by rhizome barrier.

Fertilizing

 

Although any grass fertilizer can be used with bamboo, Bamboo Giant Fertilizer and Supplement has all the microingredients needed specifically by bamboo for long term health. In Japan, tests revealed three times the growth on regularly fertilized groves to unfertilized ones. Fertilizing the bamboo two or three times per year will keep it healthy but for dramatic growth, use Bamboo fertilizer and supplement every time you water! Of course bamboo just loves composted manures of any kind, just donÕt overdo it! The ground must breath or the roots will rot. Our supplement will also make your bamboo more resistant to aphids.

Maintenance

The key to keeping the bamboo beautiful is in how one prunes and grooms. Remember that once cut, culms will not grow back. Branches may be trimmed off to expose the culm. Green culms in full sun will yellow over time. For a more open look, the older culms need to be thinned out each year and the spaces between them kept even and open. For the largest culms, cut all small new shoots each year.

Pests

Aphids are a minor problem with bamboo. The aphids secrete a sweet material that promotes the growth of sooty mold, resulting in some black spots on the leaves. These will not kill the plants but look unsightly. We control aphids by releasing large numbers of ladybugs each year. Although not eliminating the aphids, the population is controlled. They can be eliminated entirely by spraying. The other pest common in California is the gopher. They love bamboo and will keep your plants from spreading by eating the new shoots.

Removal

The best way we know of to kill bamboo is by prolonged flooding. In the winter, berm the area around the bamboo and flood for about 2 weeks.

Restricted Planting Planting in Containers above Ground Use a container large enough to have a space at least two inches between the edge of the root ball and the side of the container. Squatty tublike containers are better than tall deep ones. Plant in a half barrel (wood or plastic). All containers must have large drain holes. Fill the bottom half with gravel to assure good drainage. You may sink plastic or wood containers into the ground with about 4" of barrel above the soil line. Bamboo Giant Bamboo Mix should be used to fill the container. Good drainage and moisture retention is essential. Planting with Barriers Bamboo Giant Polyethylene Rhizome Barrier can be used to keep spreading bamboo restricted. As long as the 30" barrier goes 27" deep, the bottom can be open. The running bamboos are spreaders. These species need room to grow. DonÕt plant them in tiny spaces unless a rhizome barrier is installed. At least a 3 foot wide space is ideal to allow for free growth. Bamboo Giant rhizome barrier is installed by trenching a perimeter 27" deep around the planting area and then placing the barrier on edge. Tip the barrier away from the plant at about a 15 degree angle. Let the barrier stick 3" out of the ground. Support with a decorative wall or border if possible. Try to have only one seam. The seam should be overlapped and mechanically clamped. Wind Stability Bamboo is very stable in windy conditions if the plants form a small grove. If placed in a container or enclosed in barrier, the plants must be permanently supported unless the following area is provided. Bamboo needs approximately 1 foot of root ball radius for each 10 feet of height. So a 30-foot plant would need a container or contained area of at least 6 feet in diameter to remain standing in windy conditions. Plants going into a smaller area must have supplemental support planned. Containing with Restricted Watering Restricted watering can control bamboo in locations with a dry summer climate. If the climate is dry in the summer, an effective barrier can be accomplished through selective watering only near the center of the plant.

Bamboo Giant Rhizome Barrier 60 mil thick x 30" tall. Dig a ditch 27 inches deep to install barrier. Tip the barrier away from the plants about 15 degrees.

General Planting Instructions

The plants you have purchased are usually ready for immediate planting unless you are instructed otherwise. If itÕs very hot and dry when planting, shade the plants for a couple of weeks, and make sure they do not dry out. DonÕt keep them waiting for more than a few hours after unwrapping. Unwrap carefully. Avoid breaking tender, new shoots. Clip off any branches or canes that start to dry out.
To plant, follow these instructions:

1. Dig a hole 6 inches deeper than the container and twice as wide. If your ground is wet and any water accumulates in the hole, fill it in and plant the bamboo above ground, building up the soil around the new plant with Bamboo Mix. Bamboo must not be planted in saturated soil!
2. Blend Bamboo Giant Bamboo Mix with the excavated dirt at a one-to-one ratio for the bottom of the hole. Use straight Bamboo Mix around the plant. Discard the excess dirt.
3. Carefully remove the bamboo plant from the container. Be careful with new emerging bamboo shoots. These are very tender.
4. Place the plant in the hole so that the soil levels match at the top. Backfill the hole and tamp the dirt/Bamboo Mix tightly between the root ball and the sides of the hole. Be sure to fill all voids!
5. Build a doughnut-shaped depression around the plant and water until deeply soaked.
6. It is important to make sure the bamboo does not dry out during the first summer after planting. The signs of drying out are apparent when the bamboo leaves roll up and become very narrow looking. A 3-6" mulch of wood chips or bark is desirable.