How to Grow Bamboo in Your Landscape
Bamboo is a beautiful, versatile plant that can transform your landscape into a living sculpture. Plant it in a decorative pot to create a focal point, in your garden to make a screen or fence, or as a modern hedge along your property line. The possibilities are as limitless as your imagination.
In addition to being visually stunning, Sacred Bamboo is also good for the environment and health. It is a highly sustainable plant that grows quickly and provides food for wildlife. Its roots help stabilize soil and prevent erosion. Its foliage absorbs and returns nutrients, particularly silica, to the soil. Bamboo plants are also known for their antibacterial properties and can be used to treat water run-off from agricultural land where excess nutrients cloud and poison clean waterways.
Unlike most other woody plants, bamboo does not grow by cell division. Instead, it has a unique system of cellular expansion that allows it to grow quickly and easily. Bamboo starts off with a bunch of compacted cells inside it and its extensive root system absorbs a lot of water to inflate those pre-built cells straight up into the sky. This is why it can grow so fast - it can get up to 30 meters in just one year!
It is important to plant your clump or running bamboo in spring so that it can have a full growing season. This will ensure that the new shoots (culms) are well established before it goes dormant in winter. The culms that appear in the first year will have a smaller diameter than the ones produced in subsequent years but as each season passes they will grow larger and taller.
You can also help your bamboo by removing dead culms in the autumn, tying together any loose or brittle branches and mulching with a rich compost. In the case of clumpers, you can also help by placing hay or other insulating material on the ground around the base of the bamboo rhizomes during winter to keep them protected from cold temperatures.
Bamboo can withstand many different conditions and is suitable for most climates, including a wide range of hardiness zones. However, you should choose a variety that is right for your area. It is important to check with a local nursery for advice before purchasing your bamboo so that you are confident that it will thrive in your location.
With species available in heights from 3 to 30 meters and a huge variety of colours and shapes, there is a bamboo for every garden and landscape. With a little research, you can find the perfect bamboo for your needs - whether it be in a pot to create a statement piece, or as a privacy hedge for your home or business. With so many options, it is no wonder that this versatile and attractive plant has become a symbol of Feng Shui and global culture.