Clumping Bamboo
Is Clumping Bamboo Right For You?
If you are in a temperate region, and are seeking a unique way of bordering your yard or property with a natural element, clumping bamboo could be just what you need. Unlike running bamboo, which grows straighter and more true, but which is unpredictable and spreads quickly through underground shoots, the clumping bamboo varieties are much easier to control and will fill in your fence line within two years of planting. Some varieties can shoot up over 50 feet, and the growth process only takes about 7 years to complete. So if you plant a two year clumping bamboo plant, you will shortly thereafter be enjoying the impressive and beautiful features of this large grass plant.
Most bamboo will suffer stalk damage during frost or at temperatures below 30 degrees Fahrenheit, but can not tolerate root damage from deep freeze conditions. The roots will continue to thrive even if your clumping bamboo suffers freezer burn, but if the roots are caused any type of dormancy you will probably lose your giant grass trees. Clumping bamboo shoots will reach a diameter of up to 6 inches depending on the species you choose. Some will only reach a three inch diameter, but all of them will shift, wave, bend, and dance with the breeze, giving your yard a very peaceful and tranquil quality. When starting young clumping bamboo plants, you will want to offer some defused sunlight or light shade, and may also want to install a wind break around them. These tender little stalks can snap like a twig with a mild to moderate wind.
Your clumping bamboo will need plenty of water from the beginning, and you will want to continue feeding them throughout their adult life. Natural decomposition of organic materials is very important to the health of your bamboo, so raking and cleaning up under the stand is not a good idea. Fertilizers can help this unique plant to sustain, but his real bread and butter comes from the fruit of the earth, so let the old leaves and weed life die out underneath your stand and give the roots a chance to absorb their nutrients. Your bamboo will thank you emphatically.
If you live in a borderline climate, where winter temperatures rarely drop below 15 degrees, you might benefit from the cold resistant Giant Timber clumping bamboo plant. It offers a brilliant, lush green color and makes a signature, gentle clacking sound when toying with the breeze. It will gain heights of up to 60 feet within a few years of planting, with shoots measuring between 4 and 5 inches in diameter. Be sure that his roots are well watered during times of drought, and enjoy your giant grass plants for years to come.