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How to get bushier bamboo?

tuffnelljohntuffnelljohn Posts: 284
in Plants
Hi,

I have a very blank, stark wall, so thought Id plant some bamboo against it last year. The bamboo is the clumping kind. 

Is there a way I can fill in the gaps between them? Such as cutting the tops off so they focus the energy on new growth?

Thanks



Posts

  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @tuffnelljohn I think the only way you can get them to clump up is water water water. I have just feed mine with BF and B. Avoid sea weed extract too salty.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • tuffnelljohntuffnelljohn Posts: 284
    GardenerSuze said:
    @tuffnelljohn I think the only way you can get them to clump up is water water water. I have just feed mine with BF and B. Avoid sea weed extract too salty.
    Thanks. Sorry - whats BF and B feed? (Ive just googled it and it only shows breast pumps! Which I presume is not what you meant!  :D )

    As it happens, I watched a video this morning on how to propagate bamboo. So Ive just been doing that.
  • thevictorianthevictorian Posts: 1,279
    You'd be surprised at how quickly they will fill in once established but it will take a while for them to get going.
    Water and feeding will help and you are feeding to increase the new canes next spring/summer, so don't be disheartened if it looks like nothing is really happening until then.

    We have fargesia rufa and it's become a bit of a thug since it really got going and needs to be restrained to keep it manageable. It was in a planter similar to yours which kept its growth more controlled but it boomed when we planted some in the garden. 

    We have golden and black bamboo in planters and they have suffered from not enough water and to much wind, drying them. It can be hard to keep them moist enough in such planters but it's the most important thing to keep them thriving. 
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    water and patience
    Devon.
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    Blood fish and bone
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • tuffnelljohntuffnelljohn Posts: 284
    Excellent - thanks!
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    edited July 2022
    In addition to the advice given above, a good mulch of organic material such as garden compost, farmyard manure or soil conditioner will help your soil to retain moisture and encourage the roots to get fully established.  New canes are normally produced over a six week period stating in May.  If your bamboo is a Fargesia variety, they tend to be slow growing for the first two years and then produce more and taller canes during each growing season thereafter.  
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @tuffnelljohn Sorry about the BF and B. The penny needed to drop with me too when I first started to look at this forum.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
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