Use Bamboo, the most environmentally sustainable wood on Earth! We also sell Bamboo Poles, Fencing, Furniture etc.
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Use Bamboo, the most environmentally sustainable wood on Earth! We also sell Bamboo Poles, Fencing, Furniture etc. |
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BAMBOO - Growing Bamboo Information When is the best time of year to plant bamboo ? Here in the lower mainland of British Columbia and Vancouver Island we can plant bamboo anytime of year as long as the ground is not frozen. In other locations that experience much colder conditions it is best to plant in the spring or summer. Usually the longer the bamboo plant is in the ground before it freezes the better. What type of soil should I plant my bamboo in ? Bamboo prefers light airy soil that is high in organic material but will grow in just about any soil as long as it is not in standing water. How do I protect my bamboo in harsh weather area's ? To protect your Bamboo through winter in harsh environments it's a good idea to place mulch around it. About 4 - 6 inches of pines needles, grass clippings or what ever you have provides excellent protection to the root zone during hard freezes and dry winter conditions. For extreme conditions such as growing a bamboo not hardy enough for your climate; place stakes around the perimeter of your bamboo, place wire mesh around the stakes, fill the area up with mulch (the deeper the better). In marginal area's with extreme weather such as the Prairies protection from the wind is vital. Bales of hay or straw placed around the Bamboo and covered with plastic will do wonders. If your bamboo dies to the ground do to an extremely cold winter, don't give up on it, in many cases it will recover and act like a super large perennial. When should I fertilize my bamboo ? Fertilize your bamboo in early spring just before it starts its spring shoots with any slow release lawn fertilizer. When and how do I thin my bamboo ? Thin your Bamboo when the new culms (bamboo trunks) are just starting to open up with branches. The culms to chop off are the ones that are discolored or very small as compared to the others or leaning over. To make your bamboo beautiful expose the culms for all to see by chopping off the lower branches. If you would like to limit the height of your bamboo chop it off at the desired height and that culm will never grow higher. Bamboo culms come from the ground at the thickness they will have for their entire life and once the end of summer comes they will be at the maximum height for that culm. After that they will only grow new branches and thicken up over the rest of the life of the culm in some cases up to 10 years or more. How do I control my running bamboo's growth ? To control a running bamboo's growth it is important to realize that the control of a running bamboo is done from below ground. Many people have tried to control running bamboo by cutting down the canes above ground which actually encourages the running bamboo to spread even more below ground. Running bamboo spreads from the rhizome's which are usually ivory in color and noticeably thicker and straighter then the other roots. It should be mentioned that clumping bamboo has a different type of rhizome that does not spread as far so all that is needed to control it is to chop off the piece of the plant that is no longer wanted. In general clumping bamboo is much slower growing and grows with more of a bush look then running bamboo that is more vertical in appearance but there are exceptions to this rule. Our favorite method to stop running bamboo's expansion is root pruning. Cut into the soil straight down with a long bladed shovel around the parameter of the plant. The time to do this is in the late spring and fall; by doing it at this time the rhizomes are not able to establish themselves with hair roots and shoots that later develop into culms (the bamboo canes). If you want your running Bamboo to expand into a certain area you can reposition a rhizome (keeping it attached to the mother plant) and the future culms will grow up in the vicinity of the rhizome. Another way to control running bamboo is to install a rhizome barrier which is available in various sizes and thicknesses from 24" - 36" wide by 30ml up to 60ml thick. In our experience the 30inch by 60ml barrier works the best. The barrier is installed below the ground around the parameter of the grove or the sides where you do not want it to spread such as along a property line. It is placed into the ground at a slight angle of about 15 degrees towards the outside of the Bamboo grove thus deflecting the rhizomes upwards to the surface rather then down and under the barrier. Sometimes the rhizomes will try to jump over the barrier and go back into the ground but it is easy to cut them off when you notice them. A pond or trees are good natural barriers for running bamboo. Bamboo will not grow into wet area's and does not like to grow past the drip line of large trees. If your water table is high then control with a small trench is easy also. Here on the West Coast we are very lucky; Bamboo loves our climate and grows incredibly fast. If you have neglected to root prune for several years certain species can grow very large fast and if it is too large for your liking we offer a free bamboo removal service. Phone or Email us for details. How does bamboo react when it is exposed to too much cold ? As the temperature reaches the extremes allowed by a particular bamboo the leaves will suffer first by turning to beige and dying back. If the leaf buds are not damaged when the weather warms up the leaves will grow back. If the cold continues for an extended period or intensifies the branches and culms will begin to fade and eventually die. If the rhizomes under the ground are not killed the bamboo will grow new shoots which will turn into new culms in the spring. Several people who grow bamboo not rated for their location or in harsh climates treat it as a perennial. Will bamboo grow indoors? Yes bamboo will grow indoors but only certain varieties thrive there. Recommended indoor bamboo varieties. Do you have a guarantee? Yes we do. Guarantee details.
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