Before purchasing your bamboo, you should make sure it has a good chance of survival. You can do so by visiting [Where will Our Bamboo Survive] Guide.
Below are 3 sections to help you prep, plant and prosper your bamboo:
- Give Your Bamboo a Head Start: Soil, Mulch, and Feeding
- From Box to Yard: How to Plant Your Bamboo
- Give Your Bamboo Room to Shine
Bamboo is incredibly tough and adapts to a wide variety of native soils, but giving it a little extra love on planting day will set it up for explosive growth. If you want to give your new tropical clumping bamboo the ultimate head start, here is what we recommend:
1. The 50/50 Soil Mix (For Heavy or Sandy Soils) Bamboo isn't overly picky, but it absolutely thrives in rich, loamy soil that drains well.
If your yard is full of heavy clay (which holds too much water) or loose sand (which drains too fast), we recommend mixing your native soil 50/50 with a good quality organic compost or planting soil.
Blend this mixture together as you backfill the hole. This gives the new roots a nutrient-rich, perfectly draining foundation to spread into.
2. Mulch is Your Bamboo's Best Friend If you only do one extra thing for your bamboo, do this! Add a 2 to 3-inch layer of organic mulch (like pine bark, cedar, or hardwood mulch) over the planting area.
Why it works: Mulch acts like an insulating blanket. It locks in moisture so the sun doesn't dry out the roots, keeps the soil temperature stable, and slowly breaks down over time to feed the plant.
Pro Tip: Leave a small 1 to 2-inch gap between the mulch and the actual bamboo canes. You want to cover the roots, but you don't want wet mulch piled up against the stalks!
3. Hold Off on the Fertilizer (At First!) It’s tempting to hit your new plant with fertilizer on day one, but hold off! Let your bamboo settle into its new home for at least 3 to 4 weeks to avoid burning the sensitive new roots.
Once it’s established, bamboo loves to eat. Because it is a giant grass, it responds beautifully to high-nitrogen, slow-release fertilizers. You can look for a dedicated bamboo or palm fertilizer, or simply use a slow-release lawn fertilizer (just make sure it does not contain any weed killers or herbicides!).
Feed your bamboo once in the early spring and once in the summer to fuel those massive new canes.
4. Consider a Soaker Hose
During the first few months, your newly planted bamboo will need regular watering to establish its root system. Laying a simple soaker hose or drip line around the base of the clump is an inexpensive way to ensure the soil stays perfectly damp without you having to stand outside with a watering can every day!
When your new bamboo arrives, it will be packaged securely to survive the journey. Don't be alarmed if the tall grassy top is folded down inside the cardboard box—bamboo is incredibly flexible, and it will bounce right back!
Here is exactly how to get it out of the box and into the ground:
Carefully open the cardboard box and slide the plant out. Release the top of the bamboo if it was folded down for shipping. Let it stretch out while you prepare the planting area.
Once your hole is ready, remove the plastic shipping bag. Then, gently slide the root ball out of the plastic pot. (Do not plant the pot or the bag!)
Place the root ball squarely in the center of your hole. Check one last time to ensure the top of the root ball is level with the surrounding ground. Fill the hole back in with your soil, gently pressing it down around the roots to remove any large air pockets.
Give your newly planted bamboo a slow, deep soak immediately. This helps settle the soil around the roots and gives the plant a refreshing drink after its journey to your yard.
One of the best things about the tropical bamboo we sell is that it is clumping, not running. That means you never have to worry about underground runners aggressively taking over your yard—or your neighbor’s! Instead, the plant grows outward from the center in a tight, predictable circle, adding new canes around the edges each year.
However, because these clumps expand over time, you’ll want to give them a little breathing room when planting near fences, walls, or property lines.
Here are a few simple rules of thumb for spacing:
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The Hedge & Mid-Size Rule (3 to 5 Feet): For our mid-sized varieties (like Graceful, Seabreeze, Asian Lemon, and Yin Yang) and our excellent hedge varieties (like Fernleaf and Alphonse Karr), plant the center of your root ball at least 3 to 5 feet away from any fence or property line. If you are planting Fernleaf or Alphonse Karr specifically to create a dense, touching privacy screen, space the plants themselves about 4 to 5 feet apart from each other along that line.
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Make Room for the Giants (5 to 8 Feet): If you are planting massive timber bamboo (like our Oldhamii) or towering varieties (like Emerald Bamboo), give them a bit more space. Planting the center of the root ball 5 to 8 feet away from the fence ensures the mature clump has plenty of room to flare out and display its impressive canes.
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Think About Maintenance: Leaving a gap between your bamboo and the fence isn’t just for the plant's health—it's for you! Leaving a small walkway behind the plant makes it much easier to clear out fallen leaves, trim away older canes, and keep your yard looking pristine.
By giving your bamboo the right amount of space from day one, you get a gorgeous, natural privacy screen that stays entirely on your side of the fence!
