Last updated on March 10th, 2022
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Bamboo makes for a very desirable plant no matter the garden you have, they seem to fit into nearly any planting theme. There are ample types of bamboo that make large clusters, ideally suited as a focal point in your garden or as a hedge or screen to the perimeter of your property. They add a great deal of structure and texture to any border.
Bamboo plants grow so prolifically that they can be invasive if left to their own devices, however, you can keep them under control with some simple maintenance or they can even be grown in pots. Below we go everything you will need to think about when growing bamboo, from planting to pruning as well as some of our favourite varieties.
Check out the top recommended bamboos for growing in containers here.
Planting Bamboo
Types of Bamboo
Bamboo comes in two forms: clump-forming or running.
As the name suggests, running bamboo produces runners, long underground rhizomes that will spread like wildfire if not contained in either a pot or with correct pruning. If you want to grow runners, you can pick from bamboos like the Hinanobambusa tranquillans ‘Shiroshima’, arundinaria gigantea, chimonobambusa marmorea, or bashania varieties, amongst others.
Clump-forming bamboo grows in clumps and is not as invasive, so they make a popular choice for smaller gardens. These include the fargesia, chusquea, thamnocalamus, amongst others.
Planting position
Bamboo thrives in moist, well-drained soil and prefers sunny locations. All varieties enjoy well-drained soil and sunny spots, they are otherwise tolerant of soil types as long as they aren’t exposed to constantly wet or extremely dry conditions. One exception is the Shibataea variety which prefers acidic soil.
Before planting, we recommend digging in lots of well-rotted manure or compost into the soil. If you plan on growing them in pots then we recommend mixing 50% potting compost with 50% soil improver.
Plant in spring and add plenty of organic matter into the soil
When planting, do so in the spring when the energy stored in the rhizomes can be put to use to produce strong canes come summer. The rhizomes for bamboo will need time to produce roots before the plant goes into dormancy over winter. As already mentioned you want to add compost or manure to soil before planting, remember to dig it well into the soil so it’s mixed well.
When you dig a hole, it should be sized so that the root ball sits about 2-3cm below the soil line. You then want to fill in the space around the root ball and pack it firmly in place. Once planted, water well.
Feeding Bamboo
Once your bamboo is established it can usually grow well without feeding because they grow happily in poor soils, however, it can help them along if you give them a high amount of nitrogen in the spring and a more balanced fertiliser for the rest of the growing season, something like a general water-soluble plant feed once a month. If you are experiencing a particularly hot, dry spell, give it regular watering.
Growing Bamboo in Containers
If you are growing bamboo in containers, you want the same drainage and considerations for runners as you do for the clumps. You should also be mindful about the pruning you will need to do to keep a container-grown specimen at the right size and also help the canes stand out.
When growing in planters you will need a large pot, ideally as large as you can, but it a good idea to pot up smaller plants in stages. We recommend mixing 50% normal potting compost with 50% soil conditioner because this helps retain moisture and adds lots of goodness to the soil that bamboo plants like. It’s also a good idea to add controlled-release fertilisers and give an extra liquid feed during the summer, once a month. If you have very cold winters you can insulate your bamboo with fleece or bring them inside.
Watering
If you choose to grow bamboo in pots they will need watering regularly, probably at least once a week because they don’t respond well to drying out. The leaves soon start to show signs of a lack of water by curling and turning brown and the affected foliage also usually never fully recovers.
Pruning and Thinning Bamboo
Given how it grows, you can contain runner varieties by planting your bamboo inside of a physical barrier. This is also a great way to make pruning easier.
To contain your bamboo with pruning and thinning, you will need to decide where you want your bamboo to grow and mark a line. With proper spades and sharp tools, you can cut along that line to remove any clumps or rhizomes that have spread below. Above the soil, you can thin out the existing canes to allow for better shape, airflow, or to prevent it from getting out of hand.
Propagating Bamboo by Dividing
You can divide your clump bamboo in the middle of spring with a spade or pruning saw but for larger clumps you may need an axe. Simply cut apart the clumps and from there divide them into several clumps ready for replanting. If you are removing rhizomes you can to pick one cane and cut the soil away from it, then cut the rhizome off of the main plant. Reduce its size to 30cm and put it in a tray of compost, lightly covered. Water it and keep it somewhere warm. Propagation is also possible via seed but this is less common.
Recommended Varieties
There are literally varieties for all garden types. If you have a shaded garden, you should grow the Chimonobambusa bamboo whose stems are lime green and marbled with brown and white. They thrive in partial shade and will grow in moist well-drained soil. They are also is one of the lowest growing varieties, only reaching approximately 2 metres.
If you have an area in your garden with direct sunlight, the Phyllostachys varieties are a good choice with the ‘Aureocaulis’ bamboo (pictured above) being a stunning choice with its yellow canes. It prefers full sun although it needs to be planted in a sheltered position, in moist but well-drained soil
Some varieties for exposed sites include Bashania fargesii and the Sasaella masamuneana ‘Albostriatus’, these are low growing bamboos, growing to only 2 metres and best of all grow in any position from full sun to dense shade. The Pseudosasa bamboo also makes a good choice for exposed sites because it is tolerant of the wind, but it does grow to 6 metres although this can be controlled with a bit of topping.
