Plant guide: bamboo
Bamboos are a striking, architectural plant that look spectacular in tropical or contemporary gardens. However, they have developed a bit of a bad reputation, as a thug that can quickly break out and take over… There are lots (and lots!) of different types of bamboos, and if you’re planting them in the garden, it’s really important to understand which type you’re using and the best way to plant them to keep them under control. That said, we’re huge fans of bamboos; they are perfect as a quick growing screen to hide any less attractive features or views (we often use them to mask trampolines), they are an easy way to provide height and interest at different levels, and they look great in pots too.
This guide should help you choose the perfect type for your location, and give tips to make sure it stays under control…
Botanical name:
All bamboos are members of the botanical subfamily Bambusoideae. There are lots of different bamboo species available, some of those commonly grown in gardens include Phyllostachys, Fragesia, Chusquea and Sasa. All of the different bamboo species can seem a bit overwhelming at first perusal (especially since there aren’t huge obvious distinctions between all of the plants!) but the most important distinction is that some plants are a “running” type and some are “clumping”.
Generally, the “running” type of bamboos are the ones that give bamboo a bad name – they can quickly outgrow their space, they spread by underground roots known as rhizomes, which are incredibly strong and can even push through concrete, and if they’re planted without adequate control can quickly take over and become impossible to eradicate.
“Clumping” types, as their name suggests, grow in a clump. They tend to be much easier to control, often grow to smaller heights, and are better suited to smaller gardens or pots.
Plant type:
Perennial
Growing conditions:
Most bamboos do best in moist but well drained soil. Different types of bamboo prefer different light conditions, though most will grow well in sun. Some, such as Sasa bamboos, can cope with shade.
Overall, it’s really important to either match a bamboo species to the conditions you have, or to research the type of bamboo well and provide it with the right spot!
Bamboos grow to different heights, some really tall ones are only suited to large gardens, but make a perfect screen. Other, smaller varieties, can even be grown as a small hedge. Clumping bamboos look great in pots.
For all “running” bamboos, it’s really important to contain their roots to prevent them spreading and taking over. Once they have got out of control it can be almost impossible to remove a bamboo – we’ve seen many a plant breaking out of gardens and taking over pavements! Any running bamboos should always be planted in pots, in contained raised beds, or in a specially-prepared trench.
How to plant:
Clump-forming, non-spreading varieties can be planted straight into the ground.
Plant in early Spring, to allow the roots to establish before the plants go dormant in Winter.
Dig a hole twice as wide as the pot diameter and a little deeper than the height of the pot. Gently remove the plant from the pot and place in the hole, with the rootball sitting low in the ground – you want the compost height from the pot to be just below the soil level. Back fill the hole and add in some well-rotted organic matter to increase soil fertility.
See our guide to planting out container grown plants for more info.
Running varieties should always be planted inside a container. We often use large pots, or raised beds. If you really want to have a running type of bamboo growing in the ground, then you can dig a trench around 1m deep and line it with a thick root barrier membrane. You can buy these online from garden centres, bamboo specialists and nurseries. Do make sure to use a specific product rather than something like pond liner, as strong bamboo roots could make their way through this…
Grow with:
Because of their size and striking upright growth, bamboos tend to look best as a focal point, rather than planted too closely among neighbours. So make sure to give them a bit of space to really show off their attributes!
They tend to look really great alongside other foliage plants. Pair them with large leaved plants such as bananas, colocasias or tree ferns for a lush, verdant, tropical vibe. We love bamboo and fatsia together, for a low-maintenance garden. Both slightly thuggish plants that can cope with being planted next to each other!
Bamboos also suit very minimalist, contemporary gardens. Neatly-clipped topiary (yew balls, for example) looks really striking alongside bamboo in a modern, clean lined space.
Care:
Water well for the first Spring and Summer after planting. Once established, continue to water for any dry periods. Bamboo really hates drying out, and can lose all of its leaves if it gets too dry. This can be a particular problem for bamboos in pots, so it’s important to keep them well watered. We also find that a good mulch to help conserve moisture goes a long way, as well as misting the leaves in any dry spells, which increases humidity.
If bamboos do drop their leaves in a dry spell, they will grow back, but it is a sign that it can use some extra care…
Bamboo need plenty of nitrogen for good growth, so it’s really helpful to occasionally give it a feed with a liquid fertilizer with high levels of nitrogen.
Old bamboo shoots and leaves can start to look scrappy. Cut back any dead or dying shoots in the Spring time, removing them right back to the soil. Leave some dead leaves on the soil around the bamboo as they return silica to the plant.
If a bamboo starts flowering, this uses a lot of energy from the plant and can even cause the plant to die. Cut off any flowering shoots straight away to prevent this…
Favourite varieties:
Phyllostachys nigra is one of our absolute favourites. It’s a really tall bamboo, with black stems, that makes a real statement wherever it’s planted. It’s a “running” bamboo and we only ever use it in a pot, or a raised, contained border, to make sure it doesn’t spread where it’s not wanted.
If you’re worried about bamboos getting out of control, there are some smaller clump forming varieties that remain in position:
Fargesia nitida is a tall ‘Feather bamboo’ with arching stems topped with a mass of fluffy-looking leaves. Cultivars with different coloured stems are available, such as ‘Black Pearl’ with a black stem.
Fargesia murieliae is known as the ‘umbrella bamboo’ for its arching stems that often flop outwards right to the ground. Its bushy all the way up (no bare canes at the bottom, like so many other varieties) and grows in a neat, compact clump.
