Zen and the Art of Gardening

Running and Clumping Bamboos

Bamboos can be roughly divided into runners or clumpers. (monopodial and sympodial)
  Running bamboos spread by sending out underground rhizomes in all directions, many feet each year.  New canes come form buds on the rhizome.  They can be very aggressive in a warm climate and quickly take over a yard or field. Most runners are cold hardy and have their own special beauty. If you have seen a bamboo grove that has canes spread out that you can walk through, that’s a running bamboo. The bamboo on the left is Giant Moso bamboo and is the largest of the running bamboos.  Notice how spread out the canes are.  The bamboo on the right is Spectabilis bamboo.  It only grows to about 2 inches in diameter and has canes closer together. But is is a runner and will spread rapidly in all directions.
Clumping bamboos are mostly tropical or sub tropical.  They grow from a base that forms buds next to existing canes.  They form a tight clump that has canes very close together, often touching.  They are easy to control as they don’t spread out.  Below is a clump of black bamboo that we saw at Quail Botanical Gardens.

How Running Bamboos Grow and Spread

  Running bamboos spread by sending out underground rhizomes in all directions, many feet each year.  New canes come form buds on the rhizome.  They can be very aggressive in a warm climate and quickly take over a yard or field. Most runners are cold hardy and have their own special beauty. If you have seen a bamboo grove that has canes spread out that you can walk through, that’s a running bamboo. The bamboo on the left is Giant Moso bamboo and is the largest of the running bamboos.  Notice how spread out the canes are.  The bamboo on the right is Spectabilis bamboo.  It only grows to about 2 inches in diameter and has canes closer together. But is is a runner and will spread rapidly in all directions.

Planting and Care of Bamboo

Before receiving your bamboo you should have picked out a place to plant. Most of the larger bamboos will need at least a few hours of direct sun or filtered sun all day. They may grow in areas without much sun but will be much slower growing and will be spread out quite a bit. If you can plant the bamboo near water it will be happiest. This does not mean the bamboo should be planted in a wet area. Most bamboos do not like wet roots. If you are in a colder climate and trying a bamboo that is borderline hardy to your zone, then try to pick a well protected area. On the south side of a wall or building is an idal spot. Anything to help block the north wind will help. Of coure you should plan on mulching heavily.

 

Erosion Control with Bamboo

With two streams and a pond I’ve had several opportunities to try out different species in different situations and evaluate their effectiveness. One of my first plantings, specifically for erosion control, was in the bend of a small creek. With development upstream creating more and more run-off, the small streams on our place have changed over the years. Thirty years ago they were small streams that usually increased in flow after a hard rain but it was nothing dramatic and rarely caused much damage. Now, during the spring, these streams can swell to dangerous levels after a heavy rain and erosion has become a real problem. While I can’t do much about the source upstream I have been able to stabilize some of the worst areas downstream on my property. These streams naturally form S-shaped curves along their length. With the heavy flow in the spring the banks of these curves have begun to erode and in several places we now see red clay banks where before it was leaves and undergrowth. There is an especially bad stretch along my driveway where the damage is highly visible. About five years ago I planted five Giant Leaf bamboo plants. The area is in full shade and the soil was just red clay. It took some time for the plants to establish and spread but now they have filled in nicely and cover an area about 20 feet long and 10 feet wide. The red clay bank is completely hidden and erosion has stopped in that area.

 

Grow Big Bamboo Fast

When I got serious about collecting bamboo there was a time when I planted many species each year, often in multiple locations. I wanted lots of bamboo fast. I live near a horse farm. I was able to get free manure (mixed with straw) and placed a 2 to 4 inches of this around each planting, usually 3 to 4 feet in diameter the first year. I might add some artificial fertilizer such as 8-8-8 spread over the area. I would cover this with straw or leaves or whatever was available. When fall came I raked up a very deep mulch around each planting, at least a foot or more of leaves in a 5 to 10 foot circle. If planting a fence row I fertilize and mulch in a long row connecting the new bamboo plantings, however thick I wanted the screen to be.

Preparing Bamboo for Winter

In most cases your bamboo should be fine during the winter without doing anything. However, there are several things you can do to help cut down on the stress of winter and reduce or eliminate damage from cold and wind. As the bamboo gets older and better established it will be able to withstand even colder temperatures.

Plants Mistaken for Bamboo

Japanese Knotweed is a perennial that spreads by rhizomes. It has stems that are jointed somewhat like bamboo. This, along with it’s rapid spread is probably why it is sometimes mistaken for bamboo. However, it has heart shaped leaves and creamy white flowers. It can reach 5 to 10 feet in heigth and produces new canes each spring forming a dense thicket. The dead stems and leaves decompose slowly and form a thick mulch which, along with the dense growth, prevent other plant seeds from germinating. The rhizomes can spread up to 20 feet from the parent plant and as deep as 8 feet. It forms a rapidly spreading mono-culture and is considered an invasive pest. It can reproduce from very small pieces of the rhizome or fresh stems. You can find lots of information about this plant by doing a search for Japanese Knotweed.

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James Mortensen

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