Guide to Bamboo Gardening

Growing bamboo brings ideas of fear into many gardeners' minds, although seeing a garden shown in a magazine is always intriguing to the eye. Many gardeners think that to grow bamboo takes lots of effort and considerable amount of growing space. This is not the case though; bamboo is much easier than first thought.

More and more reputable gardening centers and order magazines are coming along offering deals that are hard to resist. For the most part, mail order magazine offers are trustworthy however gardening centers lack a little in distinctive varieties in each area. It is important when choosing a bamboo variety to make sure that it is zoned for the area in which it is intended to be grown. If a bamboo variety is not intended to be grown in a specific area, it can be very invasive to the garden.

When reviewing information about a variety of bamboo, please pay extra attention to the classification of each plant. Bamboo is a natural type of grass. So, purchasing the wrong type of bamboo for your area can result in growth of more than a foot a day! Therefore it is important to research each bamboo variety before purchasing to decrease this problem. Basically there are two types of bamboo categories: clumping and running varieties. There are too many varieties to mention; therefore these two categories will give the best idea of what type of variety is best suited for each location. The clumping category of bamboo is much like a perennial plant. This comparison refers to the roots not needing too much space to grow each year. In comparison, if not enough space is given, and then the bamboo will not reach its normal height. Clumping bamboos are the feared traveling type that contains underground rhizomes that take over a garden. Since these roots are all connected, it will become impossible to kill off the bamboo if it starts to take over the garden, which it will do if not taken care of properly. The good thing is that the roots are very close to the top soil, about 2- 10 inches; therefore plastic edging can be placed in the ground around the plant to prevent traveling.

For the most part though, bamboo loves full sun and a pH level of around 6.0. It is important to choose a location that is well-drained however is not dry. Bamboo will not live without lots of water, however hates to have puddles of water around the roots. Mulching will assist with the watering process though, assuring that too much water is not given at once. Likewise, a high nitrogen fertilizer is best suited to enhance the growth of this plant and should be added when first planting.

So, with the proper care taken with the newly planted bamboo, gardeners should not fear planting these Asian Grass Varieties. By purchasing the right variety of plant that is for the chosen location, the type of bamboo and proper care is taken while growing the plant will ensure a healthy living plant that will add character to any garden.