How to Care for Bamboo Grass

Even tall bamboo plants are really a type of grass.

Though bamboo often is thought of as an exotic type of tree, it's actually a fast-growing perennial evergreen grass. Bamboo differs from trees in that all types of bamboo have the potential to reach their full height in a three-to-four-month growing season as opposed the decades that it takes for other trees to reach maturity. Despite its exotic, showy appearance, bamboo grass is relatively simple to cultivate.

Things You'll Need

• Garden hose
• Aged manure
• Water-soluble fertilizer
• Pine bark mulch
• Over-wintering fabric (if necessary)
• Insecticidal soap (if necessary)

Instructions

1. Water bamboo grass deeply and frequently, especially during the first year of growth, to ensure successful establishment. Check the moisture of the soil every two to three days. Provide 2 gallons of water when the surface feels slightly dry to the touch. The bamboo grass will begin to curl when it is depleted of water. Water immediately if this occurs.

2. Fertilize bamboo that is less than 1 year old with a 2-inch layer of aged manure, spread evenly over the surrounding soil. Feed established bamboo grass once a month from April through September, using a half-strength solution of a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer. For best results, follow label instructions when applying chemical fertilizer products.

3. Protect bamboo grass from winter temperatures. Heap 6 to 8 inches of pine bark mulch around the base of the bamboo grass to insulate its root system. In areas that experience extreme winter temperatures, bamboo should be bent over and wrapped in an over-wintering fabric; remove the fabric in the spring or when the extreme weather passes.

4. Monitor the bamboo grass for spots on the tops and bottoms of the leaves; spotted leaves indicate a problem with bamboo mites. Treat an infestation of bamboo mites with insecticidal soap, if necessary, per label instructions.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not remove leaves that fall from bamboo grass around the base of the plant. They will discourage the growth of weeds and infuse the soil with much-needed silica.

• Bamboo grass spreads vigorously and is considered invasive in some areas. Plant bamboo in a planting container or use a high-quality rhizome barrier to control its spread, if desired.

References

• "The Essential Garden"; Liz Dobbs; 2002
• New England Bamboo Company: Bamboo Planting and Care
• American Bamboo Society: Bamboo FAQs
• American Bamboo Society: Planting and Caring for Bamboo

Resources

• Bamboo Garden: Growing and Maintaining Bamboo