Welcome to Living Bamboo's FAQ page, where we address common queries about bamboo care and cultivation. Wondering how far apart to plant bamboo for optimal growth? Or how it might grow? Or how to manage leaf drop? Explore more insights below to nurture your bamboo with confidence.
How far apart should I plant bamboo plants?
How far apart to plant bamboo is relevent to the variety. When planting clumping bamboo from Living Bamboo, the best spacing is 1.2m - 1.5m between each plant, to ensure maximum growth. If you are managing a budget and/or want a "green screen" faster, then you can plant the bamboo clumps closer together. We generally dont recommend planting closer than 500-750mm apart. This minimum spacing is especially important if the plants are to be growing in a narrow retained garden or planter box. For taller varieties that may grow beyond 8m in height, a space of at least 2m would be advised.
Are all bamboo varieties invasive?
No, not all bamboo plants are invasive. Bamboo plants fit into 2 main categories - clumping bamboo or running bamboo. Living Bamboo only grows and sells non-invasive clumping bamboo. Clumping varieties of bamboo can't become invasive, and vice versa. Please see a detailed article here.
Does bamboo shed a lot of foliage?
Bamboo is considered a high foliage evergreen plant. However, like all other evergreen plants, they will drop some foliage at different times of the year, usually late Winter in e.g the SEQ climate. The extent of leaf drop (and/or yellowing) will be specific to the climate and the conditions they are growing in. It is important to not overplant bamboo, and to keep the soil moist and active at all times. Bamboo is shallow rooted, so the addition of mulch is beneficial in helping to achieve this. If your bamboo plants are shedding a lot of leaves, it could be a sign that something is wrong with either the growing environment or watering schedule. Generally, if the bamboo has access to nutrient, supplemented by regular micro and macro fertilisation, as well as water, leaf drop should be minimal. Please feel free to contact us if you have questions or concerns about caring for your bamboo plants.
Can clumping bamboo grow in a narrow garden?
Clumping bamboo can grow in a narrow garden. Some of the smaller varieties we stock, such as Goldstripe and Boniopsis are suitable for growing in narrow garden beds. We have had success with the popular Slender Weaver (Gracilis) in beds as shallow/wide as 300mm, however this was with controlled watering and well dug holes and soil medium. Bamboo will likely need more "active" management in a narrower bed, but it is certainly a viable option for those with limited spacing.
What is the best fertiliser for bamboo?
Bamboo plants are essentially a grass and like lawns all bamboo varieties love Nitrogen. Nitrogen is one of the main macro nutrients that all plants require, and is listed as the N element in the NPK ratings on all fertiliser lables. For bamboo growing in the ground look for an organic soluable fertiliser fertiliser that is designed for lawns. For bamboo growing in pots or retained environments that raise away from the natural flow of water and nutrients through the ground, then a high N controlled release fertiliser would be more suitable. Take a look at our fertiliser recommendations.
How deep and wide should I dig the holes for planting bamboo?
At the very least it is best to dig the hole 100mm deeper and wider than the size of the pot or container that the plant came in. If the existing soil is poor, then it would be good to dig it larger so that there is more space to back fill with good media, such as a well draining, nutrient dense potting mix. See planting tips here.
