How to Plant Bamboo

Planting bamboo seems to appeal to many people as an exotic addition to their garden, and indeed, it is.  It can also take over an entire garden if steps are not taken to curb its growth.

Bamboo is a plant in the grass classification and in the right conditions can achieve growth of one foot per day.  However, there are many different varieties of bamboo that are designated for particular areas.  Being knowledgeable and cognizant of the growth habits of each type will help to determine which would be best for your own particular corner of the world. 

Planting bamboo could have many benefits to the gardener, as it is quite a useful plant.  Everyone knows, of course, that bamboo is the favored meal of the panda.  Most of us, however, do not happen to have pandas in our back yard or even in the near vicinity of our home.  There are other uses for the plant, though, that can be very beneficial.  While pandas enjoy eating bamboo after it is grown into a tough and crunchy stem, humans enjoy eating bamboo shoots; the plant before it matures.  Used a great deal in Asian cooking, bamboo shoots are a delicious addition to stir fry meals, chow meins and chop suey dinners. 

Bamboo is also an instrument of building.  Full stems, when dried, can become room screens, window blinds and more.  Bamboo makes a very durable and attractive material with which to build furniture; tables, chairs, beds and other items.  Anyone who is a fishing enthusiast can attest to bamboo’s success as a fly fishing rod; excelling in its strength, flexibility and straightness.  That is not to say that by planting bamboo in your yard, you will automatically become an entrepreneur of bamboo products, but it may provide a starting point for you to use your own product to its best ability.

The best growing conditions for bamboo are moist, well drained, fertile soil conditions, the best example of which being a river bank.  Red clay is the favorite growing medium when planting bamboo, although sandy soil is well tolerated.  Once a year, applying a lawn fertilizer in the early spring months will help an established bamboo patch maintain its growth. 

Planting bamboo to be grown as a container plant indoors is a fun activity that is growing in popularity.  It is thought to bring luck to a household, and known to bring beauty.  Young canes are simply rooted in water, and then add stones for appeal.  These types of bamboo plants will grow slowly, making them ideal for indoor plants.

Anyone interested in planting bamboo can learn more about it from their local nursery. Different areas may require different types of bamboo for it to be successfully grown.  An exotic plant, bamboo can be invasive so be sure to research the plant well before planting in your garden.