How to Plant Bamboo

Bamboo is an exotic plant that conjures up images of China and the Far East. It has long been a staple of Eastern culture, and now it's become quite popular in the Western world as well. Bamboo is both an elegant and exotic addition to almost any garden, presenting a new alternative to typical fencing and bordering projects. Of course, bamboo requires more care than a simple wooden fence, but the result can be well worth it. We're going to look at some tips to make sure you have the best of luck with adding bamboo to your outdoor garden.

Create a plan. Decide where you want to plant your bamboo, including figuring out if you want to make a bamboo fence or if you simply want a grove of bamboo as an accent piece. Plan on planting in the late spring or early summer if you live in a colder climate.

Make sure you have enough plants to fill the space. Bamboo plants will fill in and spread on their own, so you can plant them sparsely to begin with, and let them fill in.

Create a barrier to keep the plants from spreading into areas you don't want them to grow in. Bamboo spreads from underneath the ground, so you will need to create a barrier around the area. This barrier is best made of polystyrene that is at least 40 millimeters thick, and at least 30 inches deep. Place this in the ground around the perimeter of the area you want the bamboo in, and pack the soil tightly around the barrier.

Spread several inches of mulch in the area you're going to plant your bamboo. Work it into the soil.

Plant the bamboo and water thoroughly.

Continue watering thoroughly and every day until the bamboo has reached the size you're looking for. After that, the plants can do with much less water. But, keep an eye on the leaves of your plants. If they begin to drop, they're standing in too much water.

If the bamboo is of decent height when planted, you may need to stake the plants until they are firmly established. This will help protect them from being damaged by wind and rain.