You are at the mercy of the weather. Try growing bamboo in containers and moving them indoors from November through March. How do I maintain a running bamboo? Edging twice a year is best, both for the health of the bamboo and to keep it fully under control.
Edging involves cutting back the rhizomes as they expand to the edge of the designated growing area. See a full list of maintenance methods, details, and photos on this page: Bamboo Control.
Can I keep my running bamboo from spreading by not fertilizing or watering it? To some extent yes, but if a bamboo feels too neglected it may decide to head for greener pastures, so use this technique with caution.
It often depends on the location. Lack of nutrition and water will often result in less healthy looking bamboo. During the first three years, as the bamboo is getting established in a new area, it is important to water regularly, times per week, during the summer. Can I plant my runner in a pot and put the pot in the ground to contain the runner? This is the number one way to have bamboo get out and cause havoc. Pots, Tupperware containers, garbage cans, metal feeding troughs, are all too small to contain bamboo for longer than a couple years.
In order for the bamboo to survive, the containers must have adequate drain holes at the bottom. The bamboo rhizomes spiral down the container, go out the drain holes, and then burst the pot walls within a couple years. By that time, instead of bamboo rhizomes being shallow like they usually would be, they are running deep, which means they will be more difficult to dig up and prune back into shape. If one or more sides of the grove is inaccessible for pruning, install 80 mil barrier and check the inside of the barrier yearly for circling rhizomes.
Using the three sided barrier technique is best for this application. For smaller running type bamboo, 60 mil barrier is adequate. Can metal be used as a bamboo barrier?
It also is difficult to join together effectively enough to avoid the bamboo breaking it open. Can a retaining wall act as a barrier? If the foundation is well constructed and made of concrete, it will block bamboo. It needs to be deeper than 30 inches, otherwise the bamboo can possibly get under the wall. Bamboo can find its way through stone retaining walls.
Will bamboo grow well in containers? Bamboo is an excellent container plant. It provides an upright, evergreen screen for many applications. We have developed a specialized container for growing bamboo called the Sugi Bamboo Planter , as our flagship offering 60" x 24".
Other options include galvanized metal stock tanks, cedar boxes, and large fabric pots Root Pouch. The following are key points to consider for long term health and maintenance:. Smaller runners will generally grow better in containers than larger ones; clumpers can do very well in containers but they need partial shade to stay healthy.
Good runners for containers include Pseudosasa japonica, Phyllostachys aureosulcata , P. For clumping bamboo, most Fargesia will make a nice container plant, with a fountain shaped plume of foliage.
Groundcovers like Sasa make nice short, bushy container accents. The Fargesia and most of the Sasa will definitely need afternoon shade, or the leaves will burn.
Use well draining potting soil and make sure the container has good drainage at the bottom. For example, Black Bamboo a Running Bamboo can grow over 30 feet tall in the ground but often won't top 15 feet when grown in a container. Clumping Bamboo will often achieve 10 feet in a planter, as opposed to 12 to 15 feet in the ground.
Clumping Bamboo are shade loving. Hardiness - Bamboo grown in containers are less hardy than if grown in the ground. Container bamboos, especially those that are not well adapted to hot sun and cold winters, require more care in placement, as they can be damaged if the pot overheats or freezes. A bamboo hardy to 0 F in the ground may suffer cold damage at 10F when grown in a container.
The larger the container, the more cold hardy your bamboo will be. Watering - We recommend watering your containers when the top of the soil appears dry, until water comes out the drainage holes at the bottom. Always monitor your plants for signs of dehydration such as curling leaves. We often water our bamboo every day during extreme heat, but in normal weather, we water 2 to 3 times per week during the summer, or during extended dry periods. We recommend fertilizing 3x per growing season Spring - Summer with a high nitrogen grass fertilizer, for example: NPK with added iron.
We also offer an organic Bamboo Fertilizer this is a custom blend we have developed at Bamboo Garden for mixing in with the potting soil. With our Sugi Bamboo Planters, bamboo can grow well for up to 10 years. If not maintained, root bound bamboos may escape or even break their container. Smaller divisions can be made at this time as well. With our Sugi Bamboo Planters, the bottom can be detached so that the bamboo can be pushed out from beneath which is a big advantage for ease of transplanting.
Containers - We recommend using our Sugi Bamboo Planter because it offers good insulation from heat and cold, and ease of maintenance because of the trapezoidal shape and Bamboo Barrier lining. If metal stock tanks are used for bamboo, we recommend insulating the inside with Bamboo Barrier. We suggest placing any container on brick footings to avoid the eventual blocking of the drainage holes or degradation of the container.
What size container does bamboo need? The bigger the better. If you are planning to use planter boxes, 18x18 inches and 18 inches deep is the smallest you should go. Bamboo can be grown in smaller pots temporarily. If you are planting indoors in smaller pots, keep in mind that you will have to divide the bamboo fairly frequently to keep them healthy, years.
Also keep in mind that bamboo can blow over fairly easily, so avoid vase-shaped containers and use caution when placing a tall bamboo in a windy area. What is the best choice for growing a large bamboo in a container? Members of the species Phyllostachys aureosulcata are very cold hardy and grow tall and upright in containers, to heights of 15 to 18 feet.
Bamboo that can achieve attractive, larger diameter canes in a pot, include Phyllostachys dulcis , P. They can reach heights of over 20 feet, with canes over an 1. If you want the best chance of getting big canes in a container, you need to buy a mature plant. Can I plant Bamboo in a raised concrete planter? Yes but to provide a stable, long lasting container, the concrete should be reinforced with rebar.
But keep in mind that fresh concrete initially leaches lime into the soil, which may raise the pH beyond what bamboo prefers. To keep the bamboo healthy and happy, check the soil pH level once per year, and use a bark-heavy soil mix, which raises the soil acidity.
What time of year is a good time to plant bamboo? Generally Spring is best, March through June. Fall is also a good option, September through the end of October. A well rooted bamboo can be planted in the Summer, as long as it is watered regularly.
Avoid planting fresh dug bamboo in the summer. All of our bamboo in regular stock are rooted out in pots, so they are hardy and versatile. If you live in a mild climate you can pretty much plant year round, barring severe weather, as long as you supply the bamboo with enough water in the summer and a layer of mulch for insulation in the Winter.
How far apart should I plant my bamboo and what size should I plant? If you want to produce a dense screen quickly, plant 5-gallons or larger we have bamboo up to 35 feet tall in containers feet apart and they will fill in years. If you are willing to wait, plant the bamboo 6 to10 feet apart and they will fill in within years.
Bamboo can be "trained" to run where there is a layer of loose, loamy topsoil and regular irrigation. Planting our smallest size starter Phyllostachys 1-gallon about 5 feet on center will provide you with an 18 to 30 foot tall, solid screen in years.
It is usually not advised to plant bamboo closer than 3 feet apart, however some bamboos can be planted back to back, if an immediate screen is desired. This may hinder the growth rate. Contact us to discuss the details and timeline of your project. How much space do I need to give bamboo to grow in? It depends on how big you want the bamboo to grow. Dedicate at least 3 feet by 3 feet for the Clumpers 12 feet circumference , and 3 feet by 10 feet for the Runners 26 feet circumference , to get reasonably close to mature height.
The more space the better. You can maintain bamboo in a smaller area, for example, a runner contained within a 3x5 foot planter, but it can be tricky to keep the bamboo healthy after 4 or 5 years.
Transplanting or dividing every years is recommended for small containers or planters. Bamboo in a small area will grow shorter, with thinner canes, than if they are given more space to spread. Irrigation is critical for bamboo that has been in the same container for years.
Good bamboo for containers indoors can be found here: Interior Bamboo. Bamboos do not develop their full cold-hardiness until well established, and planting in spring gives the plant a longer growing season to get established and develop its cold-hardiness before the next cold season.
If planting in the late summer, we recommend planting even the most cold-hardy bamboos at least 3 months before first frost although planting season may be somewhat extended by using frost covers. Thick mulch is recommended to protect the plants over the first winter regardless of when planted. In very hot summer climates , the best planting times for bamboos are early spring and late fall. Bamboos will more readily establish themselves when weather is milder and rain is more likely.
If bamboo is green and living, and dead stalks, stems, and leaves are removed, then it does not pose a serious fire risk. The determining factor really is proper maintenance. In fact, groves of large timber bamboo have been used as fire breaks. Bamboo is extremely good at removing metals and other toxic substances from water and soil. This method of using plants as an organic factor to eliminate pollutants is called phytoremediation.
And different parts of the bamboo, including leaves, roots, shoots and rhizomes, help aid in the cleanup. Bamboo is also superior at preventing soil erosion and flooding due to its complex network of roots. Of course we know that bamboo shoots and leaves are the favorite food of giant panda bears, but the shoots have been eaten throughout Asia for centuries and used in Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine.
Bamboo contains germanium, which some believe activates your immune system. Edible bamboo species are Bambusa vulgaris and Phyllostachys edulis. Despite their love of warmth and sun, some bamboo varieties can tolerate freezing winter temperatures while still adding a tropical touch. Some varieties include golden bamboo Phyllostachys aurea and black bamboo Phyllostachys nigra that can tolerate freezing temperatures in winter.
There are over 1, species of bamboo to choose from, and this plant fits perfectly into most gardens styles from tropical to modern. Bamboo succeeds in a garden when used as a hedge, focal poin,t or privacy screen. The bottom line is to always plant bamboo responsibly to protect neighbors, property lines—and your sanity. Search for:. Of course, that is, until I cross over to the hate side.
During summer, water frequently and feed with a liquid feed regularly. Reduce watering and stop feeding in winter. Ensure that bamboo plants in containers do not try out in winter, however, since the foliage is prone to wind scorch. In very cold weather, insulate containers with bubble wrap or move them to frost-free conditions.
To ensure fresh new growth, divide the bamboo every couple of years using a saw to cut through the rootball, retaining the younger rhizomes and canes. With a little effort it is easy to keep bamboos looking good and prevent them from becoming a nuisance in the garden. Contrary to popular myth, bamboos do not always die after flowering, although the chances of full recovery are not good. They flower infrequently and it can be dramatic, with browning of the foliage and development of tall, feathery, grass-like flowers.
Flowering can weaken a clump, but the following steps may result in recovery:. Divide in mid-spring, splitting clumps apart with a mattock or axe, or lifting smaller clumps and cutting them in half with a saw. Bamboos can be propagated from seed , although, because supply is irregular, it is a less common method of propagation.
Sow seed fresh as soon as it is ripe. Viable seeds feel solid like grain - papery ones will not germinate. Growth rates will vary throughout the UK and are dependent on both local climate and soil conditions.
Growth may exceed the figures quoted. Seaside Fargesia all types 2. Bergbambos tessellata 4m 13ft Phyllostachys aurea AGM 4. Decorative canes Fargesia nitida 2. Deep shade Chimonobambusa marmoreal 1. Bamboos are usually trouble-free, but may occasionally suffer from rust or root rots.
In some years, bamboo aphids may become a problem. Where bamboo becomes invasive, our page on controlling bamboo may be of help. Join the RHS today and get 12 months for the price of 9.
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