How to grow bamboo

The bamboos are one of the most useful plants in today’s gardens, yet due to the aggressively invasive habit of many of the running bamboos, they are underused and often misunderstood. But the right species choice can make the world of difference. Clumping bamboos are non-invasive and range from delightfully elegant to awe-inspiringly gargantuan. As landscape plants they are phenomenal, providing screening to definite heights in a much shorter time frame than could be expected from a hedgerow of shrubs or trees. Read on for just a few of our favourite bamboos.

Growing Bamboo

These plants vary as widely in their growing requirements as they do in their forms and sizes. So it’s important to check the specific needs of the bamboo varieties you choose; look on the label or ask your stockist. Bamboo is quite hardy and self-sustaining once established, but a little bit of care goes a long way with this vigorous group of plants. There are a number of requirements shared by most cultivars.

Soil
Bamboos are adaptable to most soil types. The major garden situation to avoid is one where soil remains waterlogged. Clay soil should be broken up to allow root penetration, or grow them in pots.

Planting
Prepare a planting hole twice the size of the bamboo’s root ball. Improving the soil by blending in compost or manure is beneficial but not essential. In pots, use a premium quality potting mix.

Fertilising
As bamboo is a grass, it thrives on regular applications of high-nitrogen fertiliser – this feeds the leaf growth. A suitable fertiliser should be applied at planting time and then every two months from late winter until mid-autumn.

Mulching
A good layer of an organic mulch, such as sugar cane, pea straw, lucerne or coir, is of great benefit. Top it up regularly. Unlike trees and shrubs, you don’t have to be worried if the mulch comes in contact with the culms – or stems – of the bamboo, they won’t rot.

Watering
Keep new plants well watered until they establish. Once your plants have settled in they can almost be left to themselves, however they’ll perform better if watered regularly. During peak growth times – the warm months – your bamboo will look its best if it’s kept well watered.