 | Anyone with an interest in the Orient, or even the new baby panda at the National Zoo, is likely familiar with bamboo as a plant. Because it is something that grows naturally in exotic locations like eastern Asia, many people think it can’t be grown here at home. They couldn’t be more wrong.
If you’ve ever had your garden, and even your lawn taken over by the mutant growth of mint or oregano, then you’ll know what to expect with the most common varieties of bamboo. Growth, growth and more growth! That’s because the easiest type to acquire is known as a “runner”, and run it does, with rhizomes dashing along under the ground and sprouting wherever they want. They’re all interconnected to the original plant that you started with, and therefore virtually impossible to kill off. But if you’re attracted to the unique, lush appearance of this particular variety of grass, you can still make it a part of your outdoor décor, without losing control.
Bamboo in its various forms can grow to 100’ high, shooting up a foot in a day. It’s grown primarily for its leaves, and is technically an evergreen, shedding and re-growing its foliage as it matures. The stalks are what we recognize, because of the nodes, the joints between the hollow segments.
As with many other plants, a bed rich in natural materials is a good start. That means forking in a little compost, and a bit of peat moss, before you start out. The plants will need plenty of sun, as well as a pH of about 6.0. If you’re unsure of the soil conditions, get a test kit and check it before putting anything in the ground.
Your bamboo will require a good watering when it’s first put in the earth, and regular watering thereafter, but it does not like to sit in water, so make sure you plant in an area of adequate drainage. It’s a good idea to mulch to retain the soil moisture, and to protect the bamboo in colder winter climates. This also keeps down weeds, which compete with the bamboo for space. Remember that as a foliage plant, you’ll want to feed that part of it, so make sure to fertilize with a mix that is high in nitrogen.
Chances are, the bamboo you buy at a local garden center, will be some variety of the runner. If you, or even the garden center staff, aren’t sure, then hedge your bets by sinking a barrier around the plant. The root system of bamboo is relatively shallow at 18” or less. This is one reason that maturing plants must be staked in order to prevent them from uprooting themselves by weight or wind. Take a section of plastic garden edging, 2-2 ½’ wide, and encircle the plant’s roots, setting the plastic down into the earth until it is level with the surface. Make sure that where the ends of your plastic join, it is glued, securely tacked, or otherwise fastened, as the runner’s rhizomes will escape through the smallest crack.
If you do some Internet surfing, you may be able to find a mail order source for clumping bamboo. However, only a few varieties are suitable for growing in region 4 and colder areas. By nature, the clumping bamboo only spreads a few inches a year. Its pattern is to reach maturity in girth, before it grows to its full height.
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