Bamboo is a grass, but one that comes in many varieties, from dwarf bamboo plants that top out at about a foot to giant bamboo that can soar to 100 feet. The bamboo plant with which Americans are most familiar, lucky bamboo, is not true bamboo at all, but a member of the lily family.
1. The proper care of bamboo should start before you plant it. Since there are many kinds of bamboo, the first step in bamboo care is identifying what variety yours is, since that will determine where you plant it. Most bamboo plants will grow in partial shade, but there are bamboo varieties that require full sun to reach their maximum size and others that will be damaged by full sun. Also, be sure to allow enough space for bamboo. While some clumping bamboos require a limited amount of space, other bamboo plants need plenty of space to grow as they mature.
2. Caring for bamboo will be easier if you prepare the soil properly before planting. Dig a roomy hole with plenty of space for the roots. Add organic material to enrich the soil (if possible, replace up to half the soil with organic material like peat moss and well-composted beef manure). Some bamboo can be invasive. If the variety you have chosen has a spreading tendency and you want to limit its growth, it is a good idea to install a barrier before planting. Another alternative is to consider natural barriers, such as planting next to a stream (which bamboo won’t cross) or in a location that is surrounded by a wide expanse of grass.
4. Place mulch around the bottom of the bamboo plant to a depth of about two to three inches. This will help to keep the soil temperature stable and to retain moisture.
5. Water bamboo twice a week while it is getting established in your garden, and then about once a week after that. A rule of thumb for bamboo care is that it needs about as much water as a healthy lawn. Ideally the soil in which the bamboo grows should be kept be moist but not soaked. Bamboo is not a swamp grower and does not do well in standing water. On the other hand, if bamboo leaves begin to curl, the plant is thirsty and should be watered immediately and generously.
6. Fertilize bamboo with high-nitrogen fertilizer in the spring and summer and low-nitrogen fertilizer in the fall. Bamboo should not be fertilized in the winter.
Sources:
http://www.wikihow.com/Plant-a-Clumping-Bamboo, How to Plant a Clumping Bamboo
http://www.wikihow.com/Take-Care-of-Bamboo, How to Take Care of Bamboo
www.americanbamboo.org, ABS – General Bamboo Information
