Growing Bamboo - Five Steps To Growing Bamboo

The art of growing bamboo depends very much on weather climates. If you live a cold climate with freezing temperatures during winter then you may be oput of luck and may need to consider growing bamboo inside.

For warmer climates such as sub tropical and tropical then bamboo can make a wonderful addition to your garden or landscaping. However, you need to decide what type of variety you want; clumping or running bamboo.

Running bamboo could cause issues with your neighbors as it has a penchant for being invasive and unchecked, can run out of control. In this article, we'll provide some handy growing tips for people who want to include a touch of orient within their landscape.

Planting Bamboo

You've bought your bamboo plants and are now ready to plant. Remember, in the right conditions, bamboo can grow very quickly and in some myths, people have actually commented that by watching them closely, you can actually see the growing bamboo sprout before their very eyes. That maybe stretching the imagination a little too far.

1. Digging your hole requires two very important considerations. Firstly, the hole should be at least the depth of the pot the plant is sitting in and secondly, you want to give it plenty of space. A general guide for width is about twice the width of the pot. Some go even a little wider.

2. Once the hole is dugg, add a generous amount of compost mix into the soil. The compost and soil will surround the plant.

3. When the bamboo is positioned in the hole, the clump of soil around the plant when extracted from it's pot should be level with the soil line.

4. Watering is extremely important during the plant's early growth. Be careful not to let the soil around the plant dry out. Some experts consider the first 12-18 months as vital and watering consistently during this period is a prime objective.

5. Fertilizing can be tricky. The plant should receive at least three applications during the first 6-12 months. Presuming you are planting in Spring, fertilize then apply follow up applications in summer and the fall. A nitrogen-based fertilizer is highly desirable when growing bamboo.