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What We've Included
When to Plant | How to Plant | Where to Plant | When to Water | How to Prevent Bamboo Spreading | Feeding Bamboo | Overwintering | Propagating | When does it Flower?
When to Plant
Bamboo is best planted in spring. This allows the plant to establish a solid root system before summer. However, they can be planted at any time of the year if the ground is frost free.
How to Plant
Planting Pot-Grown Plants & Modules
Our pot-grown plants are incredibly easy to plant and grow. Whether you’re growing them directly outside into the border or in a container, our pot-grown plants are a breeze from the moment they arrive.
- Dig a hole in the border that’s big enough to house the root system. If planting in pots, fill a large pot halfway with potting soil and then make a well in the middle. Do this until the top of the soil from the plant is just below the top of the pot.
- Wedge in the plant by adding soil to the gaps in the hole, firming down the surface to ensure it’s in place.
- Water well and you’re done!
Planting Rhizomes
Rhizomes are dormant ‘underground stems’. Don’t worry, they are just as easy to grow as our modules!
- Make a hole in your desired spot that is roughly double the size of the rhizome.
- Ensure the rhizome is slightly lower than it was in its container.
- Backfill the hole with compost and soil, firming it into place.
- Water well and add mulch to the surface of the soil to help it hold moisture.
Where to Plant
Bamboo will tolerate most soil types. All they ask is that the soil is moist and well-drained. Ensure the soil is neither waterlogged nor dry.
When to Water
Newly planted and established bamboo grown in the ground will need to be watered regularly through periods of drought. Bamboo grown in containers will need regular watering, as its water will drain faster than it would in the ground. Water them regularly through their growing season.
How to Prevent Bamboo from Spreading
Bamboo, although lovely, is quite invasive and prone to spreading. To mitigate this, you can put down paving slabs around the plants. Ensure there are no gaps, and that the slabs are roughly 7-8cm above the soil to stop the bamboo from going over the top of the slabs.
Feeding Bamboo
Feed your bamboo regularly with a general liquid feed throughout its growing months. This is especially important for varieties grown in containers, as they won’t have access to the same nutrients their counterparts in the ground would.
Overwintering
Many bamboo varieties are hardy, so won’t need protection or extra care over winter. However, bamboo in containers may need a bit more attention. Move the containers to somewhere sheltered from the wind. Insulate the containers with bubble wrap or thick layers of horticultural fleece to protect the roots from freezing.
Propagating Bamboo
Bamboo plants can be propagated by division or via rhizome cuttings.
By Division
Lift bamboo plants in spring, splitting clumps with a small axe or saw. Replant them elsewhere to give the older plant space.
By Rhizome Cuttings
Again, this can be done in spring. Choose a cane on the outside of the plant and follow it down to the rhizome under the soil. Cut the cane away from the rhizome and keep it in a deep tray full of compost.
Cut the cane down, roughly 30cm tall, at a slight angle. Water the tray and then keep the cutting in a plastic bag to help it retain humidity. Keep it somewhere warm inside, and plant it back out in spring once the risk of frost has passed.
When Does Bamboo Flower?
Bamboo can grow flowers, usually in summer. These are quite tufty, and unfortunately, these flowers can stop the bamboo from giving energy to the leaves. However, it is a myth that bamboo plants that flower mean they will die shortly after.
If your bamboo does produce flowers, cut them off as you see them, or leave them as they are until spring. Cut the whole plant back to the ground and give it a high-nitrogen fertiliser.
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