Choosing a Location for Your Bamboo

Bamboo is a versatile plant and most species can survive in many conditions. Most bamboos will do best growing in full sun. In the Southern California area, light shade can be beneficial where heat exceeds 100 degrees. Bamboo plants also like to have fertile, slightly acidic, well drained soil. Bamboo will not do well in damp, wet soils. They need proper drainage. Bamboo will grow towards water sources but will not grow in water. Consider the mature height and width when choosing a bamboo. Some will grow quite large.

If planting a running bamboo, controlling bamboo is an important consideration. It is important to find out how aggressive your variety of bamboo plants are. If you have a vigorous growing bamboo, such as the running type, you can use natural control methods below, or contain the bamboo with a rhizome barrier. We have provided a link to Bamboo Shield.

The barrier should go down at least 2 to 3 feet underground and be 2 to 3 inches above ground. The barrier should surround the bamboo completely. Once you have chosen a place to start your bamboo growing, you can plant your bamboo.

Planting Bamboo

Dig a hole that is twice as wide as the rootball on your bamboo.
Mix dug soil with composted amendment. This can be manure compost, redwood compost, etc.
Set the bamboo in the hole with top of plant soil level even with the existing soil.
Gently pry the roots to loosen out some in the hole. Don’t spend much time doing this as the roots do not like to be exposed to air.
Backfill the hole with soil mixture, tamping down the soil some as you go.
Water the hole thoroughly to help fill in any air pockets.

Planting the bamboo this way allows the bamboo to establish faster, as the soil around it will be loose and the roots and rhizomes will be able to grow in it more quickly. It is important to use existing soil with the amendment so that bamboo will grow out farther than the dug hole. Sometimes roots will not move from one type of soil to another. Water weekly until the bamboo plants are established. If possible, provide some shade to the newly planted bamboo for the first two weeks after planting.

Controlling Bamboo

Contain With Rhizome Barrier

If you have a vigorous growing bamboo, such as the running type, you can use natural control methods below, or contain the bamboo with a rhizome barrier.

The polyurethene barrier should be 60 mil thick and go down at least 2 to 3 feet underground and be 2 to 3 inches above ground. The installation of barrier is recommended when you first plant your bamboo. There are many sources for the barrier and we can also provide it upon request.

The American Bamboo Society recommendation

Cut the bamboo shoots down
Apply water to the area
Cut down the new crop of bamboo resulting from #2
Repeat the process
Keep doing this until no more shoots come up. This will exhaust the energy stored in the rhizomes underground. Without green leaves to photosynthesize and produce new energy, they will no longer be able to send up new shoots. The rhizomes will be left behind, but will rot away.

Trench Around Perimeter

Dig an 18″ deep trench at least 12″ wide around perimeter of bamboo. Fill with mulch or sand or cordon off area to prevent falls. Cut rhizomes that venture into the area with a sawzall or pruning shears. Check every few months for wayward growth.

Root Prune With Shovel

Use shovel to cut rhizomes around perimeter. Dig down and cut rhizomes with shovel. If you have a large area of bamboo, the Bamboo Spade is the perfect tool to use. Cutting twice a year in spring and late fall will eliminate spread.

Caring For Your Bamboo

Bamboo is a grass. It does best if it gets at least 1 inch of water a week, either from rainfall or manual watering. Water bamboo deeply to encourage deep roots, which will help protect your bamboo from drought. Mulch around bamboo plant with redwood or pine bark mulch. Do not rake up bamboo leaves from around the bamboo perimeter. The leaves will help keep the roots protected and moist. They will also return essential nutrients to the soil as they decompose, which will encourage bamboo growth.

Add a layer of compost and a balanced fertilizer in the spring and fall. In mild climates, fertilize three times a year for optimum growth.