Bamboo plants add a touch of exotic elegance to any garden with their graceful, swaying canes and lush evergreen foliage. Creating a bamboo garden can transform your outdoor space into a tranquil sanctuary that provides year-round structure, movement, and beauty.
Whether you’re looking to create a privacy screen, a bold focal point, or incorporate bamboo into a Japanese-inspired landscape, these versatile plants offer countless possibilities. This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about selecting, planting, and maintaining bamboo to create your own thriving bamboo garden.
Understanding Bamboo Types and Growth Habits
Before adding bamboo to your garden, it’s essential to understand the two main types and their distinctly different growth habits. This knowledge will help you make informed choices and prevent potential headaches down the road.
Running vs. Clumping Bamboo
Bamboo plants fall into two main categories based on their growth patterns:
Running bamboo produces long underground stems (rhizomes) that grow away from the main plant and can spread rapidly if not contained. These varieties are known for their aggressive growth and can become invasive if not properly managed. Popular running bamboo varieties include Phyllostachys, Pleioblastus, Pseudosasa, and Sasa species. While beautiful, these bamboos require careful planning and containment measures to prevent them from taking over your garden and potentially spreading to neighboring properties.
Clumping bamboo grows in dense clumps that expand gradually from the original planting. While they can still form large plants over time, they’re much less invasive than running types, making them a safer choice for most home gardens. Common clumping varieties include Bambusa, Fargesia, and Thamnocalamus. These varieties are ideal for gardeners concerned about bamboo’s invasive potential but who still want to enjoy its beauty.
The Invasive Nature of Some Bamboo
Many gardeners have learned the hard way about bamboo’s potential to spread aggressively. As one gardener noted, “Bamboo, once planted, rapidly becomes invasive and impossible to eradicate. It’s like thick tough blackberry brambles. Just as hard to get rid of”.
Another cautioned, “In general a terrible idea to plant bamboo along a fence line. It will spread into whatever is on the other side of the fence and also eat the fence itself”. These warnings underscore the importance of choosing the right variety and taking proper containment measures when necessary.
Selecting the Right Bamboo for Your Garden
With hundreds of bamboo species available, selecting the right one requires consideration of several factors including your climate, available space, and desired aesthetic.
Climate and Growing Conditions
Most bamboos thrive in sheltered, sunny locations with moist, fertile, and free-draining soil. However, there are bamboo varieties suitable for nearly every garden site and climate condition. Before purchasing, check plant labels or consult with nursery staff to ensure the variety you choose will thrive in your particular growing conditions.
Bamboos generally prefer:
- Moist but well-drained soil
- Protection from harsh winds
- Moderate to full sunlight (though some varieties tolerate shade)
- Fertile soil with good organic matter content
They dislike constantly waterlogged conditions or extremely dry soil, so address drainage issues before planting.
Space Considerations
Bamboo’s vigorous growth means you must realistically assess your available space. Some varieties can grow quite tall (several meters) and spread considerably over time. For smaller gardens or contained areas, choose dwarf varieties or clumping types that won’t overwhelm the space. Consider the final height and spread when planning placement in your garden.
Aesthetic Goals
Consider what role you want the bamboo to play in your garden:
- Privacy screens: Taller varieties with dense foliage work best
- Focal points: Colorful culms (canes) or distinctive foliage make striking specimens
- Ground cover: Lower-growing varieties can cover areas where other plants struggle
- Container plants: Smaller bamboos can thrive in large pots or planters
- Architectural elements: Straight, colorful culms add structure and visual interest
Planting Your Bamboo Garden
Successful bamboo establishment begins with proper site preparation and planting techniques.
When to Plant
Spring is the optimal time to plant bamboo, as this allows the energy stored in the rhizomes to fuel strong new canes during the summer growing season. The plant will then have sufficient time to establish a root system before becoming dormant in autumn. However, container-grown bamboo can be planted throughout the growing season if given adequate water.
Site Preparation
Proper soil preparation will give your bamboo the best start:
- Enrich the entire planting area with well-rotted garden compost or manure to improve fertility and moisture retention.
- If your soil is heavy clay, add grit or sand to improve drainage, as bamboo dislikes waterlogged conditions.
- For running bamboo varieties, prepare to install containment barriers (more on this below).
- Clear the area of weeds and competing vegetation.
Planting Technique
Follow these steps for planting bamboo in the ground:
- Dig a hole approximately twice the width of the rootball.
- Make the hole deep enough so the rootball sits slightly lower than it was in its container, with 2-3cm (1 inch) of soil covering the original surface.
- Place the plant in the hole and backfill it with a mixture of native soil and compost.
- Firm the soil gently around the plant to eliminate air pockets.
- Water thoroughly immediately after planting.
- Apply a layer of mulch around the plant (but not touching the canes) to conserve moisture and suppress weeds.
Container Planting
Bamboo can thrive in containers, providing flexibility in design and helping to contain aggressive varieties:
- Choose a large container at least 45cm (18 inches) across and deep.
- Use a loam-based potting compost, such as John Innes No. 3.
- Ensure the container has adequate drainage holes.
- Position the bamboo at the same depth it was growing in its original pot.
- Container-grown bamboo will need repotting every few years as they become rootbound.
Containing Running Bamboo
If you’ve chosen running bamboo varieties, implementing proper containment methods is crucial to prevent unwanted spread.
Physical Barriers
The most effective method to control running bamboo is installing a physical root barrier:
- Dig a trench at least 60cm (2ft) deep around the planting area, but ideally 1.2m (4ft) deep for larger varieties.
- Line the trench with a solid, impenetrable barrier such as corrugated iron sheets, paving slabs, or purpose-made root barrier fabric.
- Ensure there are no gaps in the barrier—fabric ends should be overlapped by at least 30cm (1ft) and bonded with appropriate mastic.
- Make sure the barrier extends at least 7.5cm (3 inches) above the soil surface to prevent rhizomes from growing over the top.
- The protruding edge can be concealed with mulch or decorative stones.
One gardener recommends: “Get the proper mil thickness for a bamboo blocker/shield to prevent the roots from spreading. They grow fast, but not super deep (species dependent). Do it the right way, if budget permits, and I think you be glad you did”.
Container Growing
Another containment option is growing bamboo in large containers or raised beds with solid bottoms. This approach is particularly suitable for small gardens or patios.
Maintaining Your Bamboo Garden
Once established, bamboo requires regular maintenance to keep it looking its best and prevent unwanted spread.
Watering
Bamboo plants have specific watering needs:
- Newly planted bamboo requires regular watering during its first growing season, especially during dry spells.
- Established plants in the ground typically need supplemental watering only during extended dry periods.
- Container-grown bamboo dries out more quickly and requires more frequent watering, particularly during summer months.
Signs of inadequate watering include leaf curling, yellowing foliage, and cane dieback. When watering, apply water deeply at the base of the plant rather than with overhead sprinklers.
Feeding
To maintain vigorous growth:
- Don’t rake up fallen bamboo leaves—they contain silica that the plant can reuse to boost strength and stability.
- For garden-grown bamboo in poor or light soil, apply a general-purpose granular fertilizer in spring.
- Container-grown bamboo benefits from liquid feeding during the growing season (March to October).
Pruning and Maintenance
Regular pruning keeps bamboo looking attractive and helps control its size:
- Remove any weak, dead, damaged, or spindly canes in the spring by cutting them to ground level.
- Thin congested clumps by removing some canes to improve air circulation and light penetration.
- To showcase attractive canes, remove some of the lower foliage by cutting as close to the main cane as possible.
- Height can be contained by pruning the tops of canes, which encourages more lush foliage production.
Controlling Spread
Monitor running bamboo regularly for signs of unwanted spread:
- Check the perimeter of your bamboo planting for any rhizomes attempting to cross barriers.
- In spring, dig out any unwanted sections that have spread beyond bounds.
- Cut rhizomes cleanly with sharp pruners or a saw when they appear at the soil surface.
Propagating Bamboo
If you wish to create more bamboo plants, there are several propagation methods to consider.
Division
Division is the most common method for propagating bamboo:
- In mid-spring, dig up a portion of an established clump.
- Use a sharp spade, mattock, or saw to separate a section with several healthy canes and rhizomes.
- Replant the division promptly at the same depth it was growing previously.
- Water thoroughly and keep moist until established.
Rhizome Cuttings
Another propagation method involves taking rhizome cuttings in early spring:
- Choose a young cane on the outside of the clump.
- Dig away soil to uncover the connecting rhizome.
- Cut the rhizome and lift the cutting.
- Reduce the cane height to about 30cm (1ft), making a sloping cut.
- Plant in a deep tray of gritty compost and keep humid until new growth appears.
Design Ideas for Bamboo Gardens
Bamboo’s versatility makes it suitable for numerous garden styles and purposes.
Bamboo as Privacy Screens
Tall bamboo varieties create effective natural screens that provide both visual privacy and noise reduction. Plant in a row along property lines, but remember to install proper root barriers if using running varieties. The quick growth rate means privacy screens can be established in just a few seasons.
Japanese Garden Elements
Bamboo is a traditional element in Japanese gardens, where it symbolizes strength and flexibility. Consider combining bamboo with elements like stone lanterns, water features, and Japanese maples for an authentic East Asian garden feel.
Tropical Garden Accents
The exotic appearance of bamboo makes it a perfect addition to tropical-themed gardens. Pair with bold-leaved plants like bananas, cannas, and gingers for a lush, jungle-like atmosphere.
Container Collections
A collection of different bamboo varieties in containers can create a flexible display that can be rearranged as needed. This approach is particularly useful for small spaces or where soil conditions are not ideal for in-ground planting.
Conclusion
Creating a bamboo garden offers a unique opportunity to bring exotic beauty, year-round interest, and architectural elements to your landscape. While bamboo’s vigor requires thoughtful planning and sometimes containment measures, the rewards of these magnificent plants are well worth the effort.
By selecting appropriate varieties, preparing your site correctly, and implementing proper maintenance practices, you can enjoy a thriving bamboo garden that provides beauty and tranquility for years to come. With proper knowledge and preparation, you can harness bamboo’s remarkable qualities while avoiding potential pitfalls, creating a garden feature that will be the envy of your neighborhood.
