How to Grow Bamboo in Your Garden

Bamboo is a widely-dispersed, fast growing evergreen plant. Bamboo species fall under the subfamily Bambusoideae in the Poaceae family of grasses. There are more than one thousand species of bamboo, varying in height, thickness, shape, and color. Bamboo is native to Southeast Asia, Africa, and the Americas, although it is cultivated in various climates and geographical areas globally. Some varieties of bamboo are invasive.

For the purposes of cultivation, there are two main types of bamboo: clumping bamboo and running bamboo. The bamboo roots of each have a different growth pattern:

1. 1. Clumping bamboo: Clumping bamboo is named for the root system, which forms a clump of what are called pachymorph or sympodial rhizomes. This compact arrangement makes clumping bamboo easy to control. The genera Bambusa and Fargesia are types of clumping bamboo.
2. 2. Running bamboo: Running bamboo has rhizomes that spread out horizontally under the soil (and in some cases, if obstructed, above it) as they grow. Many species of running bamboo, such as black bamboo (Phyllostachys nigra), are invasive, and some municipalities restrict their use. However, there are species of running bamboo that can successfully be grown, if proper precautions are made to contain them.

Bamboo originates from the tropics and subtropics, but some bamboo varieties are cold-hardy. The bamboo species and cultivar will determine how you grow and care for it, but general guidelines include:

1. 1. Consider different types of bamboo. Before you purchase bamboo to plant, consider bamboo garden design. You can use bamboo as a privacy screen, to provide partial shade, or as an ornamental accent in landscaping. This will help you decide on what type to purchase.
2. 2. Choose a spot to grow bamboo. Most bamboo varieties grow best in full sun. High winds can be damaging to bamboo, so find an area in your garden with little wind exposure. Finally, test your soil. A soil pH of 6 or 6.5 is best for bamboo—you can add soil amendments to achieve this pH.
3. 3. Plant your bamboo in the spring. Dig a hole about twice as wide as the root ball, and deep enough so that it will protrude just slightly from the top of the ground. Place the new bamboo plant in the hole, and backfill with soil. You can also add compost to the soil for additional nutrients.
4. 4. Thoroughly water the new plant. Many species of bamboo are drought tolerant, but it is essential to give new bamboo plants plenty of water when they are getting established. Give the new plant a thorough watering, and when the water is mostly absorbed, water thoroughly again.
5. 5. Protect the bamboo plant. Using mulch or wood chips, cover the area surrounding the new bamboo plant to help retain moisture and protect it from weeds.
6. 6. Fertilize your bamboo plant. After the first year of growth, fertilize your plant with a balanced fertilizer for bamboo. After that, fertilizing once during the growing season is usually sufficient.
7. 7. Control the spread. If you are growing running bamboo, the rhizomes can grow outward along the ground. To contain the spread of running bamboo, you can implement a fiberglass or polypropylene barrier. These root barriers are typically thirty inches wide to control the bamboo roots from spreading outside a specific area.
8. 8. Prune the bamboo canes. Keep your fast-growing bamboo stand’s height in check by pruning in the spring when new shoots appear. Prune just above the nodes, the horizontal indentations or rings that segment the culms. If you want your bamboo to be especially thick, with lush bamboo leaves and canes, you can forgo most pruning.

It is possible to treat some types of bamboo as houseplants. Use a large pot to give fast-growing bamboo room to expand, and make sure to place indoor plants in a place with ample light.

Bamboo is easy to propagate. Follow these steps to propagate your bamboo plant:

1. 1. Dig: To start propagating bamboo, first dig out and around the root ball of a section of bamboo you want to propagate. You need the actual root to propagate bamboo, not a stem, like with many other plants.
2. 2. Divide: Root balls for bamboo plants, with their tough, woody rhizomes, usually require the use of a saw to successfully divide. Try for a chunk that has at least some existing growth on them.
3. 3. Replant: To transplant your new cut section of root, plant it right away and keep it in moist soil until you see new shoots.

Many kinds of bamboo shoots are edible, and you can harvest them from your garden and add them to dishes such as Asian stir-fry dishes or curries. Follow these steps to harvest bamboo:

1. 1. Cut new sprouts. The best time to harvest is when the new sprouts are less than six inches long. Cut them with a sharp knife at ground level. Leave some new growth on the plant; removing all the new sprouts can impair the growth of the plant.
2. 2. Rinse the cuttings. After removing from the stalk, rinse the shoots.
3. 3. Slice the shoots. Cut the rinsed shoots in half lengthwise. Then, remove the thick outer layer, and cut the soft interior of the shoots to your desired thickness. You can boil, fry, or sauté the shoots for recipes.

Black bamboo can contain cyanogenic glycosides, which release the toxic compound hydrogen cyanide. Black bamboo is generally safe to consume when prepared and cooked properly.

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