Reeds are rarely planted in yards, if ever, so you can expect to deal with either clumping or running bamboo. Running bamboo sends out rhizomes, which spread into other areas, causing the plant to become invasive. Clumping bamboo grows in tight clusters and rarely spreads out over larger areas.
If you living in warmer hardiness zones, like zones 7 through 10, a few good choices might be Bambusa multiplex ‘Alphonse Karr’, Borinda boliana, and Phyllostachys nigra. The first two are clump bamboo types, while the last is running bamboo. For slightly cooler climates, like those found in hardiness zones 5 and 6, try the clumping type Fargesia dracocephala ‘Rufa’ or the running type Pleioblastus viridistriatus.
Shade can be especially important during winter. The combination of frost and direct sunlight can dehydrate the plant quickly. As such, if you live in an area that receives frost during winter, you should opt for a spot that receives partial shade instead of one with direct sun. [1] X Research source
Work garden compost or manure into the soil to provide it with additional nutrients. Ideally, the compost should be worked into the bottom of the transplant hole so that the bamboo roots sit on top of it. Loam soil is a mixture of five parts topsoil composted with two parts sand, two parts silt, and one part clay. Avoid rocky or soggy soils, as well as soils that are relatively impermeable.
The easiest way to protect your bamboo is to position them behind garden hedges or trees. Otherwise, you might need to build a fence around the area.
After determining the area in which you want to confine the bamboo, install barriers of sheet metal or concrete around the perimeter. These barriers should be 3 to 4 feet (0. 9 to 1. 2 m) deep.
If you are starting your bamboo plants from seeds, you should start in the very early spring so that the plants have enough time to establish themselves by summer. If you are transplanting established seedlings, any part of spring is suitable for planting. You should avoid planting bamboo in the fall, especially if you live in cooler climates, since the plant needs time to harden before cold, drying winds of winter begin. Conversely, if you live in severely hot climates that regularly reach temperatures hotter than 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius), you need to plant the bamboo early enough in the spring or in the early fall to avoid the intense heat of summer.
Drain the water 10 to 20 minutes before you sow the seeds.
Fill the seedling containers with a mixture made from 8 parts topsoil, 1 part ashes, and 1 part fine wood chips or rice husks. Filter this mixture through a wire mesh to remove stones and debris before filling the containers. When filling the containers, leave the soil fairly loose. Make small holes 1 to 2 inches (2. 5 to 5 cm) deep in the center of each seedling compartment. Drop one seed in each hole and cover the seeds gently with additional soil. Moisten the soil immediately and water daily. Let the seeds grow in an area of partial shade.
Bamboo seeds usually germinate after 10 to 25 days, and initially, the leaves are very fragile. It takes 3 to 4 months before the seedlings produce a rhizome, or stem, capable of producing new sprouts. This is the point in time at which bamboo can be transplanted. Note that if you are transplanting bamboo seedlings instead of growing the plant from seeds, these are the instructions you need to pay attention to.
The plants should be transplanted to your yard once they reach 16 to 20 inches (40 to 50 cm) tall. Remove them from their pots or poly fill bags and place them directly into the ground. The hole you transplant the bamboo into should be roughly twice as wide as the bamboo root mass. If working with clumping bamboo, you can place them within 1 to 2 feet (30. 5 to 61 cm) since these varieties will not spread out much. Note that clumping bamboo gains 1 to 2 feet (30. 5 to 61 cm) of height yearly, while running bamboo gains 3 to 5 feet (0. 9 to 1. 5 m) of height yearly and spreads out at about the same rate.
Bamboo seeds and young shoots should be watered daily during mild and dry weather. After bamboo plants have been established in your yard, you should water them twice a week during mild weather and three to four times a week during hot or windy weather.
Grass clippings make one of the best mulches for bamboo since they are rich in nitrogen and silica. Compost and hay can work well, too, as do many other types of organic and untreated mulch.
Apply an extra thick layer of mulch to protect the root systems of the mulch during freezing temperatures. If cold, harsh winds are a problem, you might need to construct a temporary barrier to shield your bamboo. If your bamboo takes on a dry look or silver color, this could be an indication of cold injury.
Apply fertilizer once in the early spring and once in the summer. This schedule corresponds to the main growth seasons of bamboo. If using an organic and mild bamboo, you can apply fertilizer monthly throughout the spring, summer, and early fall.
If you want to prevent running bamboo from spreading and do not have a barrier installed that can do so, you will need to cut new shoots off at ground level as soon as they appear in areas you do not want the bamboo in. Remove old, unattractive bamboo branches once a year. Trim them back until they look neat. If you cut bamboo just above a node, it can grow back. Make sure you remove dead leaves from around the base of the bamboo. It’s ok to leave some, though, as they will add silica to the roots. [4] X Research source
Some species of bamboo can fall victim to scale insects, red spider mites, and rust. [6] X Research source Since adult bamboo is fairly hardy, however, mites are usually only a problem for new shoots. If you suspect that pests or fungi are a threat to your bamboo, quarantine new plants and spray them with a miticide or fungicide before transplanting them.
Bamboo is best when fresh, but you can also can it or freeze it for long-term food storage. Fresh bamboo has a crisp texture and sweet flavor. Bamboo is a good source of fiber and is roughly equal to the onion in terms of nutritional benefits.
